Overview

Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, gives you the right to access government records.  All government information is presumed to be available to the public. Certain exceptions and costs may apply to the disclosure of the information.  Per Chapter 552, Governmental bodies shall promptly release requested information that is not confidential by law, either constitutional, statutory, or by judicial decision; or information for which an exception to disclosure has not been sought.  The Public Information Act is published by the Texas Attorney General's Office. 

^{Request for public information, also referred to as Open Records Request, must be typed or written and may be submitted by:}

Online Forms

For General Information:  General Public Information Request Form

For Police Information: Police Public Information Request 

Accident Reports: Crash Report Online Purchase System

To obtain an accident report/crash report, please click the above link to access your Motor Vehicle Crash Report through the 
Texas Department of Transportation.

_{Other Options}

By mail or in person at:

City of Watauga
Attn: Public Information Requests
7105 Whitley Road
Watauga, Texas 76148

Rights of the Requestor

You have the right to the following:

• Prompt access to information that is not confidential or otherwise protected. 
• Receive treatment equal to all other requesters, including accommodation in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. 
• Receive certain kinds of information without exceptions, like the voting record of public officials, and other information. 
• Receive a written statement of estimated charges, when charges will exceed $40.00, in advance of work being started and opportunity to modify the request in response to the itemized statement. 
• Choose whether to inspect the requested information (most often at no charge), receive copies of the information or both. 
• A waiver or reduction of charges if the governmental body determines that access to the information primarily benefits the general public. 
• Receive a copy of the communication from the governmental body asking the Office of the Attorney General for a ruling on whether the information can be withheld under one of the accepted exceptions, or if the communication discloses the requested information, a redacted copy. 
• Lodge a written complaint about overcharges for public information with the General Services Commission. Complaints of other possible violations may be filed with the county or district attorney of the county where the governmental body, other than a state agency, is located. If the complaint is against the county or district attorney, the complaint must be filed with the Office of the Attorney General.

Responsibilities of the Governing Body

All governmental bodies responding to information requests have the responsibility to:

• Establish reasonable procedures for inspecting or copying public information and inform requesters of these procedures. 
• Treat all requesters uniformly and shall give to the requester all reasonable comfort and facility, including accommodation in accordance with ADA requirements. 
• Be informed about open records laws and educate employees on the requirements of those laws. 
• Inform requesters of the estimated charges greater than $40 and any changes in the estimates above 20 percent of the original estimate, and confirm that the requester accepts the charges, or has amended the request, in writing before finalizing the request. 
• Inform the requester if the information cannot be provided promptly and set a date and time to provide it within a reasonable time. 
• Request a ruling from the Office of the Attorney General regarding any information the governmental body wishes to withhold, and send a copy of the request for ruling, or a redacted copy, to the requester. 
• Segregate public information from information that may be withheld and provide that public information promptly. 
• Make a good faith attempt to inform third parties when their proprietary information is being requested from the governmental body. 
• Respond in writing to all written communications from the General Services Commission regarding charges for the information. Respond to the Office of the Attorney General regarding complaints about violations of the Act.

Record Cost

Per the Texas Administrative Code, the City of Watauga may charge for public information request.  If the estimated costs exceed $40, the City of Watauga may request a deposit, prepayment or bond.

For more information on cost of records, please contact the City Secretary's Office at 817.514.5825.