www.opengovernmentrecords.net

Freedom of Information Request - Vancouver Transit Authority and Tasers

Sent to:

TransLink

1600 - 4270 Kingsway

Burnaby, BC

V5H 4N2

Text of Request:

- all 'use of force' reports (or equivalent) involving the use of a Taser by the TransLink police in 2007  and 2008

- a copy of internal policy guidelines regarding  the use of Tasers by the TransLink police

Important background:

TransLink and the Greater Vancouver Transport Authority are governed by British Columbia's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) Act.

 

Things to note about the request:

1. The request is writing (it could be by letter, email, postcard, etc.).
2. The request is for records. It's not requesting information. It's not asking questions. BC's FOIPOP Act requires government and public organizations to disclose, with limited exceptions, records (not answer questions).
3. The request is specifies a time range (2007 to 2008). This makes it reasonable to find the records. 
4. The request was sent to the organization that was likely to be in custody of the records.

 

With 1, 2, 3, and 4 section 5 of BC's FOIPOP Act was satisifed and TransLink was put under a legal obligation to disclose the records.

 

With thanks to Terry Milewski and Frédéric Zalac of the Canadian Broadcast Corporation for providing the text of the request.