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<br />TAX DATA CORP. Y. HtrM'
<br />a...._ Ud 3U (~ ....,
<br />RepL VoL lOB) (Open Reeorda Aet). The records shall be available upon payment
<br />lloeasurer replied, reiterating his position.' of the regular fees.... :'
<br />. In early May 1990, the City Department
<br />of Revenue (department), under wboae jur-
<br />isdiction the treasurer operates, promul-
<br />gated regulations governillg public __
<br />to records open to inspection or copying
<br />under alate and IoeaJ laws. The regula-
<br />tions essentially codified the infonnal pro-
<br />c:edure instituted by the a-ea.urer in April
<br />and provided in relevant part:
<br />"3. T1uI Public 11I4Y not be 4llowMd to
<br />use directly either il8 0lII!& or the diJta
<br />procemng equipmmt of the Depart~
<br />mmt of Revenue in i1l8peCting or c0py-
<br />ing public "'cords....
<br />"4., Members of the' public waiting in
<br />, person at the counter to inspect or copy
<br />,recorda shall, be served, aeqnentially for
<br />up to and, including three requeata at one
<br />time ...; those inquiring by phone shall
<br />next be served up ,to and including three
<br />requests at one time .,.; those inquiring
<br />'in writing ahall be ,last served ...
<br />"5. Data ahall not be provided orally
<br />with the assurance that it is correct.
<br />
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<br />
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<br />
<br />"6. Each copy of an uncertified doe-
<br />ument ... shall be provided at a cost of
<br />$1.25 each page. ,An additional charge
<br />of .SO. shall be collected for each page
<br />certified to be a true copy of the original
<br />by the eustodiaii. ' ,
<br />
<br />"8. The department will provide infor-
<br />mation meeting all lawful requests with-
<br />in a reasonable period of time, not to
<br />exceed three working days.,
<br />"9. 'Microfiche copy certified to be cor-
<br />rect will be provided for $5.00 each
<br />schedule upon written request .. .' copies
<br />of official source documents shall be pro-
<br />vided at a regular fee of $1.75 each certi-
<br />fied page and $1.25 for UDcertified
<br />pages.... ,
<br />"10. 'RequestS inade at one time' for in-'
<br />apeetion for more than three schedules
<br />must be made in writing. A date and
<br />hour will be set within three working
<br />days during which' the recorda will be
<br />available for inspection. Copies of the
<br />
<br />Colo. 355
<br />
<br />"12. When employees of the Depart-
<br />ment of Reveuue are eaIled upon to re-
<br />search data for an applicant for informa-
<br />tion or public recorda, [al fee shall be
<br />impoeed". (emphasis added)
<br />
<br />In JI1D&, the corporation filed a complaint
<br />and application for an order to show cause
<br />in disl1iet court. The complaint alleged
<br />that the treasurer'a proposal arbitrarily
<br />and capriciously denied the corporation the
<br />right personally to inspect public recorda
<br />pursuant to the Open Reeorda Act. Conse-
<br />quently, the corporation requested an order
<br />directing the treasurer to permit inspection
<br />of the public records as the corporation had
<br />requested. Additionally, the corporation
<br />sought an order directing that the treasur-
<br />er be personally assessed the corporation's
<br />costs and attorney fees.
<br />
<br />After an evidentiary hearing, the district
<br />court, baSed on detailed fmdings of fact,
<br />concluded that the right to inspect under
<br />the Open Reeords Act did not require per-
<br />sonal use of a tennirial to view the public
<br />infonnation displayed on the computer
<br />screen and that, thus, the issue the corpo-
<br />ration's application presented related to the
<br />manner, not the denial, of access to public
<br />records which are electronically stored.
<br />The court further concluded that a person
<br />has been permitted to "inspect" public
<br />records which are stored in this fonnat if
<br />the information requested can be provided
<br />either orally' ot: by print-<>ut from the com-
<br />puter screen. , ,
<br />
<br />Finally, inasmuch as the regulations per-
<br />mitted these fonns of access and since
<br />there was evidence to establiSh the Criteria
<br />set forth in f 24-72-203(1), C.R-S. (1988
<br />RepL Vol. lOB), the court diaeharged the
<br />corporation's order to show Cause and dis.
<br />missed the accompanying complaint. This
<br />discharge ,and dismissal form the basis of
<br />the corporation's appeal, , ,,'
<br />
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<br />, First, the corporation contenaa that the
<br />disl1iet court miseharscterized the issue
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