This page is designed to provide answers to some of the questions that we are asked most often.
1.
CAN I GET A COPY OF MY DRIVING RECORD?
2. CAN I GET A COPY OF MY CHILD’S DRIVING RECORD?
3. HOW DO I ACQUIRE A PERMIT TO PURCHASE A WEAPON?
4. WHY WAS MY NAME RELEASED TO THE NEWSPAPER?
5. CAN I MAKE AN ANONYMOUS REPORT TO THE SAFETY CENTER?
6. HOW CAN I GET A CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMIT?
7. HOW CAN I GET A COPY OF MY CRIMINAL HISTORY?
8. DOES YOUR OFFICE RELEASE JUVENILE INFORMATION?
9. WHAT DOES IT COST TO GET A COPY OF AN ACCIDENT
REPORT?
10. CAN I GET A COPY OF AN OFFICER'S "INCIDENT
REPORT"?
11. IF I HAVE DRUG INFORMATION, HOW DO I PROVIDE IT
TO AN OFFICER?
12. WHEN WILL THE CURRENT JAIL BE ABLE TO HOLD PRISONERS?
13. HOW DO I CHECK IF A PERSON IS ON THE SEX OFFENDER
REGISTRY?
14. WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON WAY TO
DETECT A METHAMPHETAMINE LAB?
15. WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE
ACCIDENT
16. WHAT IF I AM ISSUED A TICKET AND I DO NOT AGREE
WITH THE TICKET?
1. CAN I GET A COPY OF MY DRIVING RECORD?
A person may purchase a copy of his/her driving record
from any sheriff's department in Iowa. A driver's license needs to be presented
at the time of your request as proof of identity. There is a fee of $6.50
for the record. top
of page
2. CAN I GET A COPY OF MY CHILD’S DRIVING
RECORD?
Sheriff's may provide a copy of the record to that person or his/her
authorized designee. A signed and notorized release or affidavit from
the person is required. This rule applies to family members, insurance companies,
and potential employers. The release/affidavit must be the original document,
not a photocopy or fax. top
of page
3. HOW DO I ACQUIRE A PERMIT TO PURCHASE
A WEAPON?
The sheriff's department has an application that must be completed and
signed. The applicant must have photo identification when the application
is returned for processing. The permit is available after a background check
and a three day waiting period. There is a $5.00 fee and the permits must
be renewed yearly. top
of page
4. WHY WAS MY NAME RELEASED TO THE NEWSPAPER?
Calls for service, arrests, and charging information are considered public
records (Iowa Code Ch. 22.1
and 22.2
) and must be made available to the media and public. Police investigative
reports are not public records (Iowa Code Ch. 22.7
) .top
of page
5. CAN I MAKE AN ANONYMOUS REPORT TO THE SAFETY
CENTER?
Yes, you can withhold your name from the dispatcher when reporting information.
Dispatchers and officers prefer knowing the source of information, but we
would rather receive an anonymous report of criminal activity than no report
at all. Please be aware that caller ID and enhanced 911 do provide the dispatcher
with caller information. There is a toll free TIP
line 1-800-847-7492 that is answered around
the clock by the duty dispatcher.top
of page
6. HOW CAN I GET A CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMIT?
The sheriff can issue "nonprofessional" concealed weapons permits
as authorized by Chapter
724.7 of the Iowa Code. Each application is reviewed on a case-by-case
basis. There must be a clear and compelling reason for the issuance of a concealed
weapons permit.top
of page
7. HOW CAN I GET A COPY OF MY CRIMINAL HISTORY?
Local criminal history information can be obtained by visiting the Clerk of
Court’s Office located in the Washington County Courthouse. A computer
is available for your use. To obtain a State of Iowa criminal history record,
you must contact the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation in Des Moines,
IA. There is a $13.00 charge for each surname requested. Forms are available
on the internet, at the Clerk of Court’s office, or at our office. top
of page
8. DOES YOUR OFFICE RELEASE JUVENILE INFORMATION?
No. Although our office does process juvenile paperwork, we do not release
this information to the public. Any inquires can be made by contacting the
juvenile probation office at 319-653-2197.top
of page
9. WHAT DOES IT COST TO GET A COPY OF AN ACCIDENT
REPORT?
Accident reports cost $4.00. top
of page
10. CAN I GET A COPY OF AN OFFICER'S "INCIDENT
REPORT"?
When a citizen calls the safety center reporting a crime, accident, or other
incident, a call
for service report is completed. This call
for service details the date, time, specific
location, and immediate facts and circumstances surrounding a crime or incident.
This information is available to the press and public upon request. Police
investigative reports are not public records (Iowa Code Ch. 22.7
) and are typically not released to the public.top
of page
11. IF I HAVE DRUG INFORMATION,
HOW DO I PROVIDE IT TO AN OFFICER?
Any deputy or city police officer can take this information. Deputy Eric Weber coordinates this information.. He can
be reached through the normal Safety Center number 319-653-2107, the TIP number
1-800-8477492 or by e-mail at eweber@wps.co.washington.ia.us.top
of page
12. WHEN WILL THE CURRENT JAIL BE ABLE TO HOLD
PRISONERS?
The Washington County Supervisors have awarded a contract to repair the roof
of the Safety Center/Jail. This project is underway and will allow the building
to continue to be used for office space. These repairs
will
not
bring the jail into state compliance and will not allow the jail to be reopened.
Washington County will continue to house prisoners out-of-county until voters
approve a solution that meets Iowa State Jail Standards. Top
of page
13. HOW DO I CHECK IF A PERSON IS ON THE SEX
OFFENDER REGISTRY?
Make contact with Sgt. Mike Clark sat 319-653-2107 during normal business
hours or by E-mail at mclark@wps.co.washington.ia.us.
General information about the registry can be obtained at the Iowa
Sex Offender Registry web site.top
of page
14. WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON WAY TO DETECT A METHAMPHETAMINE LAB?
Methamphetamine labs are located most generally by the strong smell of ether. This is used in the process and is a very strong and distinct odor. Stores that carry some of the items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine can tell by purchases that are being made of said items. Some of these items would include: Lithium batteries (unusual quantities), numerous cans of ether, and or numerous amounts of Psuedo Ephedrine pills. It is possible to smell the anhydrous ammonia however most of the time this process is actually done in a different location. Top of page
15. WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT?
First of all any and all injuries are looked after. If we are unsure if there are any injuries in an accident we always have the ambulance start toward the scene. If we find that no one is injured we then collect information about the accident. This includes information about the drivers and passengers and the motor vehicles that they were driving. Information about each driver is written out and exchanged with the other driver of the other vehicles. This is done so that if the total amount of property damage exceeds $1000.00 each driver will have the information needed to fill out his or her form. Finally the officer will make a determination if and who is at fault in the accident. Once fault is determined a citation will be issued to the violating driver. Once that is done each driver should report the accident to his or her own insurance company.
REMEMBER - You must have insurance on your vehicle to drive it or at least be able to prove financial responsibility. If you have failed to supply information about anyone of the two you are subject to a written citation for driving a motor vehicle with out insurance. The cost of this fine is very high and is easily avoided.top of page
16. WHAT IF I AM ISSUED A TICKET AND I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE OFFICER OR THE TICKET?
You have the option to go to court on any criminal offense or traffic ticket that you are charged with. If you do not agree with the charge one way or the other you should go to court and express your side of things. If you wish you can hire an attorney to help you or you may go in and ask questions of the officer and state your side of the case to the judge. There is not any use arguing about the charge with the officer because he/she has made the decision and will follow through with it. Your available option is to take your complaint to court.top of page