FOIA

Burning Books has produced the two short online videos below on How to Use the Freedom of Information Act and The Freedom of Information Act in Action featuring attorney Michael Kuzma. These videos are intended to assist and encourage individuals and activists in taking advantage of this important and underutilized resource to release documents from government agencies. Many thanks to Artvoice, the Buffalo chapter of the Coalition for Economic Justice, Squeaky Wheel and the Buffalo Chapter of the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee for support and assistance with this project!

 

Sample FOIA requests and appeals:

FBI FOIA Request

FBI FOIA Appeal

FBI FOIA Appeal (failure to comply with time limits)

Sample FOIA Complaint

Civil Cover Sheet

Summons in a Civil Action

Sample Vaughn Motion

Sample Memorandum in Support of Vaughn Motion

Sample Proposed Vaughn Order

 

Other Resources:

Getting Your Government Files by Michael Ratner (The Grand Jury Project is now defunct, but this still has valuable information.)

FOIA For Attorneys: Getting Maximum Value from the Freedom Of Information Act by the New York County Lawyers Association

 

Special: How to Use NYS FOIL to Request License Plate Reader Data from Erie County Central Police Services

Stationery cameras and license plate readers attached to police vehicles regularly capture our license plate numbers.  Cameras such as the one located at Broadway and Bailey Avenue in the City of Buffalo can capture up to 1,800 plates a minute, day or night.  Erie County Central Police Services (CPS) has a database with some 21 million plate scans.  With this data authorities can determine where your vehicle has traveled on a particular date and time.

 

Through the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) you can learn how many times your license plate has been scanned by the authorities.  Your FOIL request should be directed to Erie County CPS, 45 Elm Street, Buffalo, NY 14203.  We have provided a sample FOIL request for your use.  After CPS receives your FOIL request, you will receive a letter acknowledging its receipt.  This response will indicate the cost for providing documents.  The current charge is 25 cents per page.  You will be required to call CPS in order to schedule an appointment to pick up the documents in person.  On the date of your appointment, you will need to show identification, proof of vehicle ownership and payment for the copies.  Your payment must be in the form of check or money order--cash is not accepted.  An example of the type of documents you can expect to receive from CPS may be found below. It’s a fun, easy and fascinating use of New York State’s Freedom of Information Law!

Sample Erie County (NY) CPS FOIL request for license plate reader files

 

 

*For additional assistance with Freedom Of Information Law, contact: Michael Kuzma, Esq. 1893 Clinton Street, Buffalo, NY 14206  (716) 822-7645  michaelkuzmaesq@gmail.com  http://www.michaelkuzma.com/