Nathaniel Adams v. Boston, City of - Public Records (SPR 20253016)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records October 23, 2025 SPR25/3016 Grace Jung Director of Public Records City of Boston 1 City Hall Square Boston, MA 02201 Dear Ms. Jung: I have received the petition of Nathaniel Adams appealing the response of the City of Boston (City) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On September 18, 2025, Mr. Adams sought for the period of January 1, 2021 through August 22, 2025, a spreadsheet (or CSV file) of Boston parking tickets issued by police officers, parking enforcement officers, or by other means. I would like to receive all relevant fields including: the name and/or id of the officer who issued the ticket; the offense for which the ticket was issued; where the ticket was issued (including both the street address/intersection AND the BTD patrol route along which the ticket was issued); vehicle description; the current adjudication status; and any other fields that can be provided. Additionally, please provide any documentation (preferably in map form, but if that’s not available, a written description) that indicates the geographic location of each BTD patrol route. The City responded on September 18, and September 25, 2025, assigning the request reference number R005004-091825. Unsatisfied with the City’s responses, Mr. Adams petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR25/3016, was opened as a result. Subsequently, on October 15, 2025, the City provided an additional response. The Public Records Law The Public Records Law strongly favors disclosure by creating a presumption that all governmental records are public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A(d); 950 C.M.R. 32.03(4). “Public records” is broadly defined to include all documentary materials or data, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by any officer or employee of any agency or One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832 • Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us

Grace Jung SPR25/3016 Page 2 October 23, 2025 municipality of the Commonwealth, unless falling within a statutory exemption. G. L. c. 4, § 7(26). It is the burden of the records custodian to demonstrate the application of an exemption in order to withhold a requested record. G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(iv); 950 C.M.R. 32.06(3); see also Dist. Att’y for the Norfolk Dist. v. Flatley, 419 Mass. 507, 511 (1995) (custodian has the burden of establishing the applicability of an exemption). To meet the specificity requirement a custodian must not only cite an exemption, but must also state why the exemption applies to the withheld or redacted portion of the responsive record. If there are any fees associated with a response a written, good faith estimate must be provided. G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(viii); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.07(2). Once fees are paid, a records custodian must provide the responsive records. The City’s September 18th and September 25th Responses In its September 18, 2025 response, the City acknowledged receipt of Mr. Adams’ request. In its September 25, 2025 response, the City provided responsive records. In a September 25, 2025 communication to the City, Mr. Adams stated, “[i]n addition to the information you have already provided, my request asked for (i) the patrol route identified associated with each citation and (ii) documentation that shows the geographic location of each patrol route…” Current Appeal In his October 14, 2025 petition to this office, Mr. Adams stated, “[t]he city responded to my request on September 25. Although they provided much of the information that I requested, their response omitted both the specific patrol route for each citation, and the general documentation that indicates where each patrol route is located…” In an October 15, 2025 email to Mr. Adams and this office, the City stated, “[it] alerted representatives from the department regarding this matter in an effort to resolve any outstanding issues regarding your public records request…an update [will be provided] to you once additional information is provided…by the department…” Based on Mr. Adam’s petition and the City’s responses, it is unclear whether the City possesses additional responsive records. The duty to comply with requests for records extends to those records that exist and are in the possession, custody, or control of the custodian of records at the time of the request. See G. L. c. 66, § 10(a)(ii). Consequently, the City must clarify whether it possesses additional responsive records.

Grace Jung SPR25/3016 Page 3 October 23, 2025 Conclusion Accordingly, the City is ordered to provide Mr. Adams with a response to the request, provided in a manner consistent with this order, the Public Records Law and its Regulations within ten (10) business days. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of the response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Mr. Adams may appeal the substantive nature of the City’s response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Nathaniel Adams