Ohio Supreme Court rules police dash-cam videos are generally public records

Dash cam video recorded by police officers in the course of their duties is a public record generally available upon request, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

In a 7-0 ruling, the court said that some exceptions could be made for materials deemed to be investigatory work product by police, but that in general the recordings should be open to the public.

"The dash-cam recordings at issue here qualify as 'records' because they memorialize the activities of employees of the Ohio State Highway Patrol," Justice Judith French wrote in the majority opinion. "The dash-cam recordings fit within the definition of a 'record' because they document governmental activities, decisions, and operations during a traffic stop and pursuit."

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