Opinion ID: 2498924
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Memorandum of Understanding

Text: ¶ 30 Months after the decision in Guillen II was published, WSP and DOT entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act, chapter 39.34 RCW. See CP at 205-07(MOU). The Interlocal Cooperation Act allows state agencies to exercise their respective authority jointly and cooperatively. RCW 39.34.030(2). However, No agreement made pursuant to th[e Act] relieves any public agency of any obligation or responsibility imposed upon it by law. RCW 39.34.030(5). [7] ¶ 31 The MOU provides that DOT is to maintain all accident reports in its database. CP at 205. It does not explicitly reference the § 152 hazard elimination program, but the State asserts the DOT collects the data for purposes of compliance with the program. See, e.g., Pet. for Review at 7. To this end, the DOT implemented a uniform accident report form that contains specific data points required under § 152. CP at 194. This form is now filled out by law enforcement officers at the scene of a collision. Id. The WSP then scans the accident report into the DOT computer system and destroys the paper originals. CP at 205. The scanned image is then deemed to be the report of record. Id. ¶ 32 With respect to funding, both parties reference 2003 legislative budget notes, wherein the WSP and DOT are encouraged to enter into an interagency agreement for reimbursement to DOT for the accident report activities previously performed by WSP. See Washington State Legislative Budget Notes: 2003-05 Biennium and 2003 Supplemental, Program T-Transportation Planning, Date, & Research cmt. 8, at 388 (Oct. 2003), http://lead.leg.wa.gov/leap/budget/index_lbns. asp. We note that this document is not law but a publication of various House and Senate committees, prepared with the assistance of the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program Committee, and intended to provide detail for enacted budgets. The referenced note specifically stated, It is the intent of the Legislature that funding the costs associated with the collection, compilation, tabulation, analysis, and publication of accident reports, police officer and investigator reports ... shall not impair or impinge on any party's rights under the state [PRA]. Id. cmt. 13 at 389. At least according to the budget notes, the reappropriation of funds was not intended to affect any citizen's rights under the PRA. ¶ 33 Furthermore, the MOU does not limit WSP's access to, or use of, the reports. CP at 205-07. Rather, the MOU establishes that the original reports and the scanned images remain the property of the WSP. CP at 206. The [d]ata collected and tabulated by the DOT, however, is considered to be the property and responsibility of the DOT. Id. When a request is made for multiple accident reports based solely on a location, it is treated as a request for data and is referred to the DOT. CP at 209. Before receiving the reports, the requester must sign a certification that he or she will not use the reports in any litigation against the state, tribal, or local government involving a collision at the location in question. CP at 27. ¶ 34 Based on this arrangement, the State claims the reports requested by Gendler are privileged under § 409 because they are compiled or collected by the DOT pursuant to its § 152 federal highway safety reporting obligation. We disagree.