Public Records

My beat for the semester is health and I wanted to use my public records request for a better understanding of underage drinking on campus related to hospitalization. I think that the records will give me an understanding of over alcohol use and how often underage drinkers are submitted for over alcohol consumption.
Public records concerning underage drinkers from 2011 and 2012 being brought to the hospital. I believe that this information can help me write a more in depth story about underage drinkers on campus. Then I would get an overall understanding of all the underage people drinking in Pullman; not just people from the WSU campus. I'm hoping the results will have information about high school students or visiting friends. I think underage drinking is something that occurs all around, not just college campuses. I think understanding the statistics from the entire town would give me a good understanding of how people act towards alcohol in this environment.
I also think the comparison between 2011 and 2012 can also help me understand if the underage drinking violations are increasing or decreasing. I understand that the university and city police are trying to educate underage people, so I want to see if there has been a change. If not I think it would be beneficial to find an understanding of what underage drinkers are thinking-why are they drinking in a manner that is so dangerous and when do they decide that they're crossing the line?



March 7, 2013
Gary Jenkins
Pullman Police Department
260 SE Kamiaken Street
Pullman, WA 99163
Dear Cheif ,
Pursuant to the state open records law, Wash. Rev. Code Secs. 42.56.001 to 42.56.904 , I write to request access to and a copy of I would like a copy of the records from 2011 and 2012 related to underage drinkers in Pullman and those that were brought to the hospital due to over drinking. I would like to compare the results from 2011 and 2012 to see if underage students are consuming more alcohol at a dangerous level. . If your agency does not maintain these public records, please let me know who does and include the proper custodian's name and address.I agree to pay any reasonable copying and postage fees of not more than $. If the cost would be greater than this amount, please notify me. Please provide a receipt indicating the charges for each document.
As provided by the open records law, I will expect your response within five (5) business days. See Wash. Rev. Code Sec. 42.56.520.If you choose to deny this request, please provide a written explanation for the denial including a reference to the specific statutory exemption(s) upon which you rely. Also, please provide all segregable portions of otherwise exempt material.
Please be advised that I am prepared to pursue whatever legal remedy necessary to obtain access to the requested records. I would note that violation of the open records law can result in a fine � payable to me � of up to $100 for each day that I am denied access. Litigation costs, including r

easonable attorney fees, may also be awarded. See Wash. Rev. Code Sec. 42.56.550(4).Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely, 




Madeline M Curtin 
Washington State University
Undergraduate
455 NE Kamiaken St. 
Main House
Pullman WA 99163 

425-894-3584