Records Exemptions

Public records which are not specifically protected by state statute are available for disclosure under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 42.56, the Public Records Act.

Exemptions

  1. Complainant, victim or witness requested the information not be disclosed. (RCW 42.56.240(2))
  2. Disclosure of the information would endanger a person's life, physical safety or property. (RCW 42.56.240(2))
  3. Record includes information non-disclosure of which is essential to effective law enforcement. (RCW 42.56.240(1))
  4. Record contains information the non-disclosure of which is necessary for the protection of the person's right to privacy. (RCW 42.56.240(1) as defined by RCW 42.56.050)
  5. Record contains information on a juvenile, which is confidential, and may not be released to the public except by court order under provisions of RCW 13.50.050 and RCW 13.50.100 (4)(a) and (b). [Also see: child victims of sexual assaults, identification confidential.] (RCW 10.97.130; and RCW 42.56.240(5))
  6. Investigative files currently active with the Prosecutor's Office and non-disclosure is essential to effective law enforcement. (RCW 42.56.240(1))
  7. Information protected under the Criminal Records Privacy Act. (RCW 10.97)
  8. Record contains attorney/client information, protected under RCW 5.60.060(2).
  9. Contains official confidential information, protected under RCW 5.60.060(5).
  10. Booking photos are protected under RCW 70.48.100.
  11. Record contains medical information protected under RCW 70.02.005.
  12. Driver's or vehicle registration is protected under RCW 46.12.380.
  13. Traffic accident reports are confidential and protected under RCW 46.12.380.
  14. Results of toxicology or Field Sobriety Tests submitted to at the request of a police officer are protected under provisions of RCW 46.61.506(7).
  15. Reports and records of autopsies and postmortems are confidential, protected under RCW 68.50.105.