A coalition of Missouri media organizations has sued the Missouri State Highway Patrol over a records policy that keeps crash victims' names from public release.
At the center of the dispute is a high-stakes question for communities across the state: can an agency redact key details from crash reports and still comply with Missouri's Sunshine Law?
Here's what to know
Fox 2 reported that the Missouri Broadcasters Association, Missouri Press Association, Warden Publishing, and Gray Media filed a lawsuit dated Oct. 16. It alleges that, in responding to Sunshine requests, Missouri State Highway Patrol records custodians cited the Federal Driver's Protection Act to withhold crash reports that identified victims.
The dispute traces back to a Nov. 1, 2024, policy announcement from MSHP ending the release of crash victims' names. According to MSHP, the change was meant to address a scam that used information from publicly available databases to appear legitimate.
The plaintiffs contend that explanation does not give the agency authority to withhold the information. In the lawsuit, they say the redactions are "unauthorized under the Sunshine Law or any other law and are not required by law."
The response has been legal. A coalition of media organizations has come together to challenge the patrol's interpretation of the law and seek access to unredacted crash report information.
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In its initial press release, MSHP said eligible parties could still obtain that information through the Public Records Center.
Where can I learn more?
Missouri's fight over crash records is part of a broader tug-of-war over privacy claims and public access.
• Tesla asked a federal court to protect crash data from disclosure in an NHTSA-related case.
• In the U.K., a Freedom of Information request exposed appalling highway authority practices around runoff ponds.
• A federal court left Massachusetts voters' vehicle data access law in place despite security objections.
• State officials pressed EPA to expose troubling information about microplastics contamination in drinking water.
• Oil and gas groups sued Vermont over a new climate-cost law aimed at polluters.
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