Why does accessing public records online cost money?

Question

Public records are free to view any time at the courthouse, but online they cost money. That hardly makes sense to me. I should not have to pay for something that is free to view, simply because I want to view in my own home.

Answer 1

User fee principle. Keeping taxes low, except for the hundreds of billions spent on the Iraq war.

Answer 2

origamimark has the answer, as a tax payer I'd have to ask the question, if the stuff is avaible in hardcopy form at the court house why should I pay to have all this information scanned in and pay for all the cost that show up with maintaining the info and all that + keep the hardcopy at the courthouse (legal requirement I bet) just so you can sit at home and look at it.

That said I agree it would be nice if all of us could view the data from anywhere.
Maybe you should start finding out why when data is submitted it's isn't also added to some data base somehow forcing the cost back on the people who are generating the information. General taxpayers would have to pick up some cost but not the entire amount.

Answer 3

To cover the cost of converting records to an on line format and maintaining the website, etc. That said, one could question why it is free access in person since storing and controlling access etc also cost money. I would guess however that since the records must be stored anyway record holders choose not to pass on those costs since the user (i.e. you) does the work of searching. I suspect if you want copies there is a charge.

Someone has to pay. It is either in your taxes or in the form of user fees. While a whole discussion in itself, there is a sound argument that those that cause or use a government service should pay for it, rather than taxpayers as a whole. For example, you must pay for a passport or a building permit (since the work involved benefits you, why should the taxpayer in general pay?), and drug manufacturers pay the FDA to review applications to market a new drug (since they stand to make money from the sale and benefit from the government review). These services are considered, in economic terms, to be "private goods". Some government services -- such as police and fire protection and the armed forces -- are considered to be "public goods" and best paid from general tax revenues.

You may not agree ... but that is the rationale.

Answer 4

You think that computers, server farms, data processors, clerks, and more are free? If you want to use it... pay for it.. don't take money out of my pocked through taxes to pay for your curiosity

Answer 5

You think putting all that stuff online, acquiring computers, etc is done for nothing ?

Costs have to be covered.

Answer 6

But your country needs money!

Answer 7

because the companies know how much easier it is to access that from home.
although they don't have to be so freaking expensive!!

Answer 8

See -- https://backgroundreports.im/