### 14.81

**OFFICE OF**  **THE ATTORNEY**  **GENERAL OF**  **TEXAS AUSTIN** 

HonorablaEontar

Carrieon,Jr., Dire&or Mpartmant or Pub110 Saratf Camp **Mabry** Austin, Tuaa

Dear Slrl



### 0r Haroh 4, 194 to tho 

### raot the **rreritos** and ana 

### 0rri0Or6 **an&** 6 **a8** pro+fdod 1~ Statutea, fou
r oonddrration. Wk ut 

### ror aonvrnionir

,a Department ot PUblIe allow ropreesntatlrsa ereste pparronal

aoaoss to

“2. May th,a

Do,partmant

:of Pub110 safety refiwe to **rurnish~osrtitiid 6opiet1**  or aooidant reports to rlvate indirlUaal8
or 

### ri3-m rspueatiry eua ii aartiflab aopiaa?

### 1.82

HonorableHomer Garrison,Jr., page 2

"3. Mar the Departmmt of Public sarety reruse iurormationsiren on any individualaccident report to private pert30na

or rim r8queating eu0h inromtlon?

"4. Are osrtffied copies or accident reports subject to subpoena by justice courts end oourta of higher denominatlon?~

MAY TBE DEPARTMEBTOF PUBLIC SAFETY REFUSE TO ALLOW REPRESEWTATI’VES

OF PRIYATE INTERESTSPERSONALACCESS TO ACCIDENTREPORT FILES?

Although 8om4 courts have held that In this **country** every person is entitled to the right of free a00488 to, and pub110 lnapeotionof, pub110 reoords, without any ahoring or epsolal lntereste,Burton va. Tuite (Xich.1899) U R. W. 282, 7 L. R. **A.** 73, other jurisdlotlons hare adopted the rule that a person seeking aocess to au& reoordsmuet have an Interest In the reoord or paper or whfoh inapeotion ie sought,and that the lxwpeotion

muat be ror a legitimatepurpose. ~xoise ~l~salon or CltronnellaYE. State (Ala. 1912) 60 so. In the case or Palaoioa, et al., ~‘8. Corbett, et al.‘(Cir.App. or Teal. 1915) 172 S. ,w.777, writ or error refused by the Supreme Court ~oi Texas, the aourt rollowed the latternentloned ml4 and atfirmed the decision of the lower oourt whloh granted a writ of mandanu8 oommandlngseveral oonnty ofilcem to permit the plalntlrrsor their auditora to lnspeot and audit all oountf records under their oontrol, and to obtain such extraots,copiee and data therefromas thef might desire. The ootirt,

In holding that the right of inepeotion wea a quallrledright, in part statsd:

“There being no dealslone of our own oourte upon thla matter, 80 rar as we hare bean able to aeaertaln, ‘wehave had recourse to the deolslona or ,the oourta 

### or other oomtaon-law

etatea,:,‘and

oonolude that the opinion or thr Supraae Court or Tehneaaee,in the ease of Stats ex rel. Welfordv. Williama, 110 Ten% 549, 75 S. W. 948, 6l,.L.

R. A. 435, constitu tea the best stateaent of the rules oi law which should b& applied to this oharaoter of oaae. We quote from said opinion a6 rolionrs:

### 183

EouorablrEoaer Garrison, Jr;, paga 3

**In theory the right or exmiuation is absolute,but in praotloe it ia at last only a matter of disaietion,beaaum suoh application ie likely at any tin8 to be refused on the pet of **the ouetodlan**  of the books and papers Bought to be am&mined,au6 than th4 right muat be forced by maudamu&i, and this **writ** la not Of abaoluto right, **but** merelY or dfsoretion, to be awarded only in a proper oaae; the iaots olained as authorizlug Its lasuanoa to br judgrd or in 4rarY oaae bY the oourt, and th4 nit to ba awarded
or withheld upon a oonaidaratlon or all the ,o%rauW&anOea

prrsented. So, while the Clght Is, in theorf, absolute, Yet it is in praotioe 80 limited by the remedy neossaazyror.it.ts

rnroraem4utaa..that it ban be dsuo+inatedonly a ~quallrled right..**

In the light **of** this **cam, ,if**  the **aaaidrnt** reports in quratlonaia snot**r~eoret** ‘and oourld~tial, but on the othir hand are of a **public nature,**  It wOuld 84a.u that prirato peraoru (OX their dulf appolnt4d rapresentatlrrr)

would have~a right **to** lu8peot auah of the report6 as they might ehow an intare#t lun;

In the oaae of Paople ax rel.~St&netron t. Earnrtt, State Oomml88ioner 0r the Bureau or **,*tor** Behlolss (Sup.;Gt.'of p4w York,,l927) 226 f. Y. f&p. 338; affirmadby the Appellate Dltlslon, 1928, 230 Ii. Y. E&p. ~28;

affQuu46by the Court of A peals or pew York **(Meaorandum** D4alsion). 164 N. E. Boa tha raota show that **perpone** involved in antomobLie aooldant~in the Btate~ of Xew **York** were **requlr& by**  **etatote** to aend **aoaltdgnt** &&mXta to .theCoaaiasioner,-’
or Motor Vehiolss,and these **raportr** war4 made ,apon form preparedby the.CommissioaOr. Xdward 6. gtenstrom was killed in an,

~+utcimobile

aeafdant,and his wire, a8 adslnlstratrlx,

haa ooamenoedan aotion to **rasorar** daaages ror the death ,orher, intestate. She .requeatrd copies of the acclbent reports;,~but~ tka Corairmionerrerues6 to furnish tham on the**‘ groU848**  that they wera treatedas conrldentlal,'~4~4filed solely ,iortho .QB~ of the Comaisaionerin preparing statistic8and &martalning the oauae of aoaldeata,‘~and for providing ip-HonorableHomer Ckrrlaon,Jr., pagr 4

formationto enable the Motor Pehlcl4 Departmentto oontrol the aooldentproblem. Xra. StsnatrOmtiled this mendamua proaeadlng,direotlng the Uoarolaaloner to furnlahher with oopl4a of the reports. Tbr Supreme **Court** laauod the mendamus dlreatingthe Commlaalonerto permit the relator,or her ~attorney,

to lnapeot a&l the reports In hla paea4aalon regardingtaia aortain a8tOPaabih aco1dent,and the daalalon
waa arrlnaed ln'both the &p&late Mvlalon and thr Court 

### 0r Appeala~ormw York.

The court held~that three **mporte** were auah publlo reoorda aa ward aubjrot to lnapeotionbr pareone hating an lnt6reattheroln., and stat&d that suoh-an inapeotionwould promote the publio laterartan(L not **br** d4trimenbl t&It. as 

### r0ii0mt wequote rrom portions

### or **that** opinion

l X **take** the rub to bs In rrlatlonto auoh raodrda **and** doaumenta, ~althongh on rile ilth a pub110 offfeat pursuant to statute; that they o@ght not to .$aindlaarlmlnataly**aubjeot** to inrpeotlon. Howover,, any parson who has an i8tS~eSt ln stitch x4-. cord or docaPe& should ordlnar1lJ**be** permitted to inapeet it, 8nlea8 Its inepaOtfOn wou~ou,",v"oua'" be, drtrl~ex+alto pabllu

. :.wa dirriatf 

### f6 to determine what aonatltutaaa mfflilant interest or an untlmel~ and ipapropcrr olraonstanor : ror inapeotlon.

0.

. . . . . . . I do not hold that these raporta are open generally for inapeotlon to tha publip, but only to audh personawho satablleh a proper Intorest therein, and'thabarean-eehundo8btedly roneuletea proosduro by whloh eeoh applioaat ror inapmdtl,ok .x&&l be raqulredto prove his lntbrstit **aid** right 

### or lnapotion, and that permltte~~ in'proper 04~66 08lf under reasonableregulationand a&zol.*RonorablsHomer DBrrIaon,Jr., page 5

Aoaordlbgto the abort authorltlsa, and alnoe theaa aooldantraparts ar4 **of** a **publio.natUM** baoauas they are raqulredbJ law tom be *kapta ant%

iil4d by the me d attaent 0r RlbliO saretr {seutlon8-C. SIlb4ltlslon and Seotlon l2, Artidle 6687a, **Yernon ’** **e** Texae Clwl& St&tea) It la tha opinion or this D4partmrntthat prltatepersona (or theirdulyappuiiated r4pr4rantatltes) who show that th4r hare an..lntmraat ln aertaln of these reports,ar'c

entitled to inapaat~auah raporta,**.aqbj&** to rtraao!iaUr

egulati0naadopt46 by Pourd4partment. Ae to what alght~oonatlt.uta~a sufficiuatintoMat (antitling a parson to **aaa** thgm rdporta) in l agh lmtanaa, we **are** unable to say; each aaar; ln thla oonneotlon.,
must depina upon lt.a p3rtiaularraata.

XAY~THE DRPARTMRWpOF RlEaIC SAl'RTTI$PWSR TOXIRWISB CEM'IFIEDGOPIIRI

OF.ACCCID$RT

REPORTS TOpRSVATlCIt?-. DIVILXIALS

OBFI~SRRQWBSTIWC~SRGRGERTIPIED **COPES?**

In ooun4atloawlth.th4~84~tw0 qu4atlona,

wa ass-4 that.Pou

:~refer.to the, &tf or issuing oertlr~.ad. ooplea or furnlahinglnltormatl0n~ barora **aq aatual**  litigation la pending,and ta5a assumptionwill b4 the-baala for **our** answ4ra to these **qasSCloti.**

60 rar aa w4 bav4 found, thsra la no oonm0n law duty whloh rrould require public cb.floiala to Frraue asrtlrlsdaopiaa or their rsaorda rarrel~ upon applloatlon being made ror nuoh r40ord; nor ~hate we found any statute ln Texas whloh ~~allea It ths datf oi all pub110 oitlolal6to furnish oertli+ad ooplsa or thelrrsoorda mer4lW wh4n a8oh'applicatioa la made. There are apeoial atatuteawhlah raqulre asrtaln offlalaI8to furnlah 4ertlflad coplss or reoorda ln thrlr orflae when ~applloatlon la aade, Artlola~

3722, Vernon'8 Retlard Civil Statutes, 1925; how4wer,none 0i thaae statutesplaoe au4h.a duty upon the Dapartaat 0$ Pub110 Welfare. Art1014 W3 (A),VernonweR4vla46 Oiril Statutea,~aefa oqt th4 dutlea of the Publia SsfetJ Comlssion, and Subdlvlslon (3) prorides!

### 1.86

HonorableHoaer Cerrlson;g‘r.g pega 6

Vha Commissionahal eetabllah end make pabSle procl'ametldn of all rclao end rsgaletlonaior the condaot of the work OS the Departpantea mey be deemed nsoeseery end err mey not be lnconeletent with the prorl111ons of thl8 **Aat or**  **ot** the **lewr or**  the State.*
Tham stetutaa .thenoredtg the oiiiee of Dirsotor of the Depertiat of Pub110 Seietyand Mlole &Al3 (6), Yernon~*a Civil Statutaa dsflnri hia olar8 end dntlrs. **.Subdlrislon (2)**  **of A&ale**  **W3** (6P proride8 in part;

“

. . . . . **. .**  **.end** make **eueh** rules end ~regaletlons,, sub jaot to,

the epprctal of thr aoicml?rrlon; B'S hre d?,cmed

neoessery ror the control or thr 'DepertmatFW ibstralng tht tharr .Sa no petilhg 12tfgetion which would Involvedny dt the'eu~cid~~t~~portr,.here~ rrrerreb'to,

**.It-I*** ~otir;opiqlon

Bhdt %htiWpsrkent'of **Publfc Safety,**  

### in **the .~ae~ofae~**  **’ OS**  **lte smnd**  

### di8otitiQn, oould by complylq with Artloles~~3 (4) i4U.4l.3 (6), aupre, adopt eaoh rules end. ragulat,lons

that would for-. bid the Ieerrance

of~nertlilmdoop$qr o$ t@e?e faporta. .: .L Although~the:ebov+disdo8~ion refers fo hertlfled doplas, It l8~'atlr,opUfon"thet the 11em0

ree~onr and conalasions

air applfceble t+ the duty of fu?rnl~- ing lnfo&natlon

oontelnad-in

such reperts.

AHE CERTIFIEDCCPIBB OFACCIDER'PR&OR'& SURJECFTC SIBFOEW~BT JUSTICB COUR% ARD COURTS **OF** EJ3HlSR DBBOmATIOH?

Article 462, fernon* Code or CrlmlnelProcedure, 1923, provides :

%abpoen@ moaa Tymm., If 'awItno hate 

### IQhle-

caaaesslonmy lns.tmt Dry or o'thgk

thing ~desliad

es.sil4ence, yMQf, ,.. **the au**  **poena;~:rsy ~o-,eoi-ty**  **,xiu&?** brldence-and direct that .the'witners bring tha si3ma with hirn

and prodaae lt~'ln

cOurti*

### 187'

HonorableHomer t3arrlson. Jr.. page 7

This atetute la eppllaable to orlalnal oeaea. In Texas there la no spealfloprwlsion for euah rubpoenea in civil oeaea, but they aey be leeued to oompel the productionof booke and paper0 which are m&aria1 evidence for the party dswmdlmg them. See the oeaa of Stookuellte. Snyder (Ct. of Uir. App. of Tex. 1932) 51 S. W. (24) 812. where the oourt aeldr

a.
. . Plelntlti ten elwaya issue e subpoena duoea teoum where the crldenor is within the jurlsdlotlon of the oourt, es wee the oeae here, or aen give notloa to produos end offer eseondery srldence.

. . . .n
See el.ao

the aase or Slmon '1. Ash (Ct. of Civil Appeals of Texas. 1892) 20 8. 1. 719, rhsre'lt wee statedr

".

. . But even third pernon6,who bre ln their poemeaion booka or paper8 in whloh one ot the partlee hem en lntrrest, mey be compelld t.o producb tha; and by *lntarfmt*,

as tha mr4 is here used, we understandthat, if the doearentsare material eridanoe ior the party demanding them, mmh party hes an lutaremt in them, end their produdlon my be compelledby either bill of discoveryor by subpoena duos6 tsoum. 3 Ckresnl. BT. I 305.

. . .w By rirtoe of the above authorities,it ir the opinion or this Departmentthat oertlrladaoples of these eocldrnt reparta are aobjaot to e eubpoena duoee tecum by the coarte of this State, inaludlng' the justtioe

of the peeaa courts, as well a6 the dlstriat and aounty oourta, Article 2&W, Vermn*a Rerlasd Civil Statutes,1925, aubjeot to the followlag conditionsand limitations:

1. The evidencewhioh the wltnsse la required to produce auat be within the jorlsdlotloa of the aourt. Stookwsll ~8. Snyder, supre.

In a olrll suit the subpoenaoenixot be issued t; EIcounty other then that in whleh th* trial oourt sits. ~ayles t~.,,B$edley and Meteelf Coolpany,

92 Tsx. 406, 49 S. @. %9.

### 188

HonorableHomer Gerrlaon,Jr., pegs 8

3. A subpoenaduoes teeummust give a reaaoneblsaocurate descriptionof the papers wentad, either by data, title, eubstanoeor the subjectmatter to which they relate. 31 I,. R. A., RX perte Gould, 132 s. w. 364, New Sarlos, 835.
However, there 1~8 no lsgel prohibition preventingor prohibitingthe taking of depositlone 

### 0r the oifloara,agantn, servantsend employaaaOS the Dapartmaator Public Safety regardingthe above mentioned eooldent reports,provided, of couraa,said depositionaare taken and obte~ined In the menner and &a;m~;lanoe wlth the law oontrolllngand governing

. Yop1'8 +ery truly:
ATTORRlKOBNERAL OFTEXAS



### APPROVED OPlNlON 

# 0 OOMMIITEL 

### 4eP