"Document scanning worries commission" is the headline to this story today in the Munster Times. Some quotes:
SCHERERVILLE | The town's police commission wants more information about a growing practice where people are copying police reports using their own scanners.Posted by Marcia Oddi at November 10, 2004 06:22 AMSchererville Police Chief Dan Smith asked the commission's attorney, John Bushemi, to provide an opinion on the amount of money people should be charged when they inspect reports, then use a portable scanner to scan documents, rather than asking the department to make them a copy.
Smith said this practice occurs most often with crash reports, and nearby police departments are experiencing similar requests.
Bushemi said he likely will recommend that scanning be assessed a fee, and it would continue to be handled in a controlled environment.
"The public access law allows that whether it's copied by the town or reproduced by other means, a fee can be charged," he said, adding he would suggest officials amend the ordinance to include scanning.
Fee aside, Commissioner John Fladeland said he had no idea people could come in and scan documents.
"I can't get used to the idea of someone coming into the department to scan," he said. "No one should be able to do that whether it's in a controlled environment or not. I don't think anyone should be allowed to come into the department and scan documents."