Ohio Law Allows Police to Charge Public Up to $750 for Video Footage Requests

Governor Mike DeWine defends the controversial law as a measure to offset costs, while critics warn it could limit public access to vital records.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has signed House Bill 315, permitting law enforcement agencies to charge up to $750 per request for processing public video records such as body cam and dash cam footage.
The law allows agencies to charge up to $75 per hour for labor-intensive tasks like redacting and producing video, with payment required in advance of release.
Critics, including civil rights groups and journalists, argue the fees could hinder transparency and discourage public and media access to police footage, especially in cases of public concern.
Supporters, including DeWine, contend the fees address the financial burden on smaller police departments tasked with fulfilling labor-intensive records requests.
The provision, added late in the legislative session, has sparked calls for potential amendments if it leads to unforeseen consequences impacting public access.