Official Site of The State of New Jersey

The Open Public Records Act (OPRA) is a new state law that was enacted to give the public greater access to government records maintained by public agencies in New Jersey.

The public has the right under OPRA to examine or obtain copies of those public records that are not subject to exceptions from disclosure. Under OPRA, all levels of New Jersey government are required to produce records, when properly requested. Certain records are considered exceptions. OPRA expands the intent of the Right to Know law by re-defining what records are available to the public, by setting standards for accessing those records, and penalties for failing to disclose them.

For information please select one of the following:

New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and the Transportation Trust Fund Authority (TTFA):

Motor Vehicle Commission:

New Jersey Turnpike Authority (New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway):

South Jersey Transportation Authority:

New Jersey Transit Corporation:

Requests for government records

(a) All requests for access to government records pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., as amended and supplemented, held or controlled by the Department or a Constitutional agency, shall be made in writing. Access means inspection, examination, or copying.

(b) The requestor shall provide the following information on the request form:

1. The name, address, and telephone number of the requestor;
2. A description of the government record sought, method of access and if copies are sought, the medium requested and mode of delivery; and
3. The date submitted to the division or agency custodian.

(c) Copies of the request form shall be available at the offices of the records custodians of the NJDOT, the TTFA, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, and each Constitutional agency.

Official request for NJDOT and TTFA government records access can be made on the Online Request Form.

Procedures for requests

(a) Request forms shall be hand delivered during normal business hours of the public agency, mailed, or transmitted electronically by facsimile, e-mail or web site access by the requestor to the appropriate division or agency custodian of records.

(b) Upon receipt of the request form, the custodian shall review the request form for clarity and completeness. If the request form is unclear as to the government record requested, the custodian shall advise the requestor of the deficiency, provided the requestor has included contact information on the form. The custodian may require the requestor to provide additional information to identify the record or to ascertain the requestor’s identity and status to determine whether access is authorized. The custodian shall deny a request for access if the request is unclear or incomplete after attempting to reach a reasonable resolution with the requestor. A request shall not be deemed complete until the pre-payment required under this section is received by the custodian.

(c) All inquiries and processes involving the request shall include a tracking number.

(d) Upon receipt of a request form, the custodian may estimate the cost of providing the records and may require the pre-payment of the estimated sum, and of any special mailing or delivery costs. Payment shall be made by cash, check, or money order payable to the State of New Jersey. Except as provided otherwise by law or regulation, costs shall be those set forth in N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., as amended and supplemented.

(e) The custodian shall sign and date the request form, enter the estimated fee and, if applicable, tracking number, and provide the requestor with a copy.

(f) A fee shall not be required for inspecting or examining government records.

(g) Upon request, a custodian may allow requestors to use the requestor’s own photocopying equipment to copy public records, provided that it will not disrupt the business operations of the custodian and will not endanger the public records.

For more information, visit the
Government Records Council web site.