[chrismeller]

I’ve used MuckRock to request records on ALPR systems for years. I gave up several years ago because SC agencies had started rejecting them all under an exemption for law enforcement / public safety.

There’s no appeal process in SC, so they know they can just stonewall you and you’re highly unlikely to try to sue. The law is also just ambiguous enough that you risk losing even if you did sue, so it’s a lose-lose for the filer.

[sc_muckraker]

100%. I am getting right now a denial from other law enforcement agencies where they are arguing with me that it's not a public record at all because it's produced by a third party.

I've been an investigative reporter for years, and now 3 years in S.C. dealing a lot with FOIA. There's a lot of ways you can push, but one way they can stonewall you without a good way to pushback is this high cost.