Public Smoking Citations

Lukas Knight filed this request with the Boston Police Department of Boston, MA.
Submitted Oct. 8, 2015
Est. Completion None
Status
No Responsive Documents

Communications

From: Lukas Knight

Subject: None

Email

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:

Aggregate data of the total number of written citations for public smoking in Boston city parks since the passage of the ban, in which parks these citations were written, as well as the results of these written citations (i.e. of the total how many court summonses, how many of these court summonses resulted in an appearance in court, how many of said appearances resulted in a payment of the $250 fine and how many resulted in successful appeals of the citation).

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Lukas Knight

From: Media Relations

Subject: Re: Public Records Law Request: Public Smoking Citations

Email

October 13, 2015

Lukas Knight

Muckrock

Dear Mr. Knight:

Pursuant to G. L. c. 66, § 10 (b), this correspondence is to confirm
receipt of your request for documents that are potentially in the
possession, custody or control of the Boston Police Department.
Specifically, you have requested:

Aggregate data of the total number of written citations for public smoking
in Boston city parks since the passage of the ban, in which parks these
citations were written, as well as the results of these written citations
(i.e. of the total how many court summonses, how many of these court
summonses resulted in an appearance in court, how many of said appearances
resulted in a payment of the $250 fine and how many resulted in successful
appeals of the citation).

We will contact you as soon as possible with our findings, and will send
you a cost estimate for your requested materials if fulfilling the request
is expected to exceed $10.00, per 950 C.M.R. 32.06(1); 950 C.M.R. 32.03;
M.G.L. c 66 § 10(a).

Please be advised that we research each request in the order it was
received, and it may take longer than ten days to be fulfilled. If your
request requires a substantial amount of research, reviewing and redacting,
fulfilling the request will take a significant amount of time. Please plan
accordingly.

Thank you,

Office of Media Relations
Boston Police Department
*617-343-3520*
*www.bpdnews.com

From: Media Relations

Subject: Re: Public Records Law Request: Public Smoking Citations

Email

Dear Mr. Knight,

The Boston Police Department has conducted a search for documents
responsive to this request. The Boston Police Department does not track or
have aggregate numbers of citations issued in in Boston Parks for
violations of the smoking ban. Also we do not keep nor track results of
citations written. That information may be kept by the Boston Municipal
Court. You may also want to connect with the Boston Park rangers as they
too can enforce this city ordinance and may track citations issued.

Lt McCarthy
Director, Media Relations

If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Files

There are no files associated with this request.