Reporter makes records request, officials run her license plate number
From Sunshine Review
22 November 2008
TaMaryn Waters was one of five reporters from the Tallahassee Democrat who took part in the statewide public records audit in October. Despite state law that allows anyone to make a public records request anonymously, when she requested an e-mail from the Jefferson County Superintendent to school board members, the office ran her license plate number.[1]
[edit] "Just an e-mail"
The secretary that Waters spoke with, along with the former superintendent, and the newly-elected superintendent all declared they had no knowledge of who ran her plate. The officials said their office was still on high alert from weeks prior, when a man came in and demanded personal information on an employee. They said he appeared belligerent and seemed like a "stalker."
"All I wanted was just an e-mail. It wasn't like we were asking for family records," Waters said.[1]
New Superintendent Bill Brumfield also noted that on the day Waters made the request there was an orange terrorist alert. However, he did admit that his employees were not well informed on open records law.
[edit] Different treatment
Officials said that if Waters had identified herself as a reporter, they would have immediately fulfilled her request. Phil Barker, who was superintendent at the time, said, "We fall all over ourselves to get her information — we've done that for any person calling from the Tallahassee Democrat."[1]
The only problem with that is that it is in direct violation of the anonymity allowed by state law. After hearing of the incident, Alexis Lambert, Deputy General Counsel for Florida Attorney General's office, called the schoolboard's attorney to reiterate the Florida Sunshine Law.
Brumfield said he is organizing training sessions for his employees.
