Agency contacted: Governor’s Office of Highway Safety 

Records that were Requested: Contract for service for the “Operation Zero Tolerance” programs in FY2022

When did you first hear back from the agency? I sent the request on Oct. 13 at 12:15 p.m., and I sent a follow up request on Oct. 14 at 12:32 p.m. I received an initial response on Oct. 14 at 3:40 p.m. 

Did the agency request a fee? The agency did not request a fee. 

Describe the response: The agency did not respond when I sent the first email. Instead, they reached out to a Macon Newsroom Reporter saying they wanted me to narrow my request. This was forwarded to me by my professor. The next day, I sent a second email following up on my request to clarify what I was asking for. The agency replied and said the Governor’s office didn’t have any private contracts with providers in FY2022 to run the “Operation Zero Tolerance.”

Assign a grade for contact/process : C There is general contact information on the website; however, there is no specific contact information for staff. There’s one number, one email, and one address provided. There is also a submission forum to “Get in Touch,” but there is no open records request platform on the website. In order to find the specific contact I needed, I had to go through links provided on the site which made it very difficult to find the person of contact.  

Assign a grade for compliance: A. The agency responded within three business days. The response took one day, and the agency confirmed they had no information or records to provide. Additionally, there was no fee requested.

Anything else to note? No

See the full report card here.

Grading scale for agency’s ease of contacting agency staff and finding or filing for public records.

A: Agency uses an online portal or has a clearly defined process or contact on its website for requesting public records. An “A” agency may also provide the most commonly requested records on its website already such as agendas and meeting minutes.

B: Agency has some public information online such as meeting agendas or meeting times but additional information on how to request public information is not available.

C: Agency website has contact information for staff but nothing specific about how to request public information.

D: Agency has limited contact information on its website but it is not clearly labeled and/or easily accessible.

F: Agency contact information or how to get public records is not available on the website 

Grade scale for agency’s overall responsiveness and compliance with open records law

A: Provided records within the three-day window or less

B Acknowledgment of request within the three-day requirement but records were provided after three days.

C:  Acknowledged the request but then put forth a long timetable for response or requested a high fee or retrieval price for what should be a digital record and/or PDF that could be emailed.

D: Acknowledged the request but no further information or follow-up.

F:  No response

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