Public Records

 Every state has a public records law of some sort.  Louisiana's public records law can be found at R.S. 44.32.  It lays out the duty of a custodian of public records to make them available for examination. The law says that the custodian can make no inquiries of the person except for their name and age.  Why one wants the records are not important.  What is important is that public records be made available for examination.

I went to the City of Pineville this morning, one of the smaller offices, and made an inquiry.  First, I was asked why I needed to know that information and when I demurred, they told me that those records are confidential.   The law says in past:

The custodian shall make no inquiry of any person who applies for a public record, except an inquiry as to the age and identification of the person and may require the person to sign a register and shall not review, examine, or scrutinize any copy, photograph, or memoranda in the possession of any such person;

I left without making a scene.  Evidently those functionaries have not been trained in the Louisiana Public Records law.   I will see what I can do about correcting that deficiency.