Ohio limits fines for destroying public records

COLUMBUS (AP) — Newspaper publishers and others say the Ohio Legislature’s decision to reduce civil fines for improperly destroying public records effectively does away with a ban that deterred local governments from ridding shelves of controversial items.

But lawmakers say it was needed to protect taxpayers’ pocketbooks from people manipulating the law by asking for records they knew had been destroyed.

The measure signed into law last week places a $10,000 limit per case on fines an agency can be forced to pay. It also limits attorney fees to $10,000.

State Sen. Bill Seitz of Cincinnati says the modification came after a $1.4 million initial finding against the city of Bucyrus.

Opponents of the change say the limits mean most Ohioans will be unable to bring lawsuits when records are destroyed.