Right-to-Know Law (RTKL)
Under the current RTKL, all state and local government agency records are presumed to be public. This means that if an agency wants to withhold a record, it must prove that it is entitled to do so under the RTKL, another law or regulation, privilege (such as attorney-client privilege), or court order. Also, the current law established the Office of Open Records which makes it simple and free for a requester to appeal an agency denial.
Under the old law, the burden was on a requester to establish why a record was public. Also, all appeals went to court, which can be expensive and tends to be a far more time-consuming process than an appeal to the OOR.
Click here to learn more about open records laws in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Click here for the Pennsylvania Standard Right to Know form to request government records from the township and submit to the Right to Know Officer: Barabara Swearingen at finacctadmin@hopewelltwp.com
Obtaining a Police Report, Accident Report or Police Record
THERE IS A $15 FEE FOR ANY ACCIDENT REPORT.
If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, you can call the station for the police report number and provide the report number to your vehicle insurance company. They will send the $15 fee to obtain the report directly; this is the preferred method to obtain your accident report.
Information on obtaining a police report or record. In the event that you need a copy of the accident report yourself, a copy of the report can be obtained after completing and returning the Right to Know Request form.
No report will be released without the completed RTK form. The form can be submitted it to jillbanovsky@hopewelltwp.com. Sgt. Banovsky will notify you when the report is ready to be picked up. There is a $15 fee for accident reports only. We accept cash or checks at the police station.
A Right to Know request form is also required for any other type of report and the same process applies, these reports are free of charge.
INSURANCE COMPANY REPORT REQUESTS
If you are an insurance company representing a client involved in an accident, you must send a check payable to “Hopewell Township” to 1700 Clark Blvd, Aliquippa, PA 15001 along with a letter on the company letterhead stating which party involved is covered under your insurance policy. Please also include a self-addressed, stamped return envelope. You may call the department to obtain the accident report number prior to issuing the check and note the report number on the request. As soon as the report is completed and approved, it will be mailed to you.
Right-to-Know Requests
Hopewell Township Police Department Right-to-Know Officer
Jill Banovsky, Sergeant
1700 Clark Blvd.
Aliquippa, PA 15001
To submit a RTK request, please utilize one of the following methods:
- Mail your request to the address above
- Fax the request to 724-378-9105
- E-mail your request to: jillbanovsky@hopewelltwp.com
- Deliver the request in person to the police department office during office hours
- Monday – Friday, 8 am – 3:30 pm
IMPORTANT NOTE: There is no guarantee your request will be approved. There are some exceptions as stated in the Right to Know Law Section 708. You have the right to appeal a denial of information in writing to: Office of Open Records 333 Market Street, 16th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17101-2234
Click here for the Right-to-Know form.
Click here for the Hopewell Township Police Department’s Policy on Public Information and the Right-to-Know Law.
Click here for information on obtaining a police report or record.
After reviewing this guidance, should you have any further questions, please email openrecords@pa.gov. Contact information for the Office of Open Records, or other applicable appeals officer, such as the District Attorney for investigative records. Office of Open Records, 333 Market Street, 16th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17101, or visit the webpage at OOR –PA Office of Open Records.
Related Documents