A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the City of Charleston on October 28, 2024. The request pertains to unpaid parking violations within the city's jurisdiction.
As a media organization committed to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at East Central Reporter requested records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. We specifically asked for a list of all parking violations currently unpaid in the city. This list should include the name of the offender, their address, the amount due, violation date, and total due.
We believe that access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These responsibilities include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we have also requested a fee waiver as a media professional.
The information obtained from this request will be used to inform our readers about the state of parking violations in Charleston and potentially highlight any issues or trends that may be present.
As always, we remain committed to delivering accurate and timely news reports on matters affecting our community. We await a response from the City of Charleston regarding this request.