Doxpop - Tools for Attorneys and Public Information Researchers: March 2011

Friday, March 25, 2011

Please join us in opposing SB301

On March 24th, Doxpop participated in a House Committee hearing for Senate Bill 301, which proposes to increase the automated record-keeping fee portion of case filing fees charged after July 2011 by 50% (from $4 to $6.)

We oppose this bill for several reasons:
  • SB301 Increases the burden on citizens while funding a government project that competes with the private sector in Indiana.
  • The "statewide" case management system that this fee supports brings fewer features to local courts at a higher cost than existing systems already in use in the majority of Indiana Counties.
  • The independent record-keeping system of the local clerks is an important check and balance in the justice system, providing a separately maintained record for situations where an appeal or other check on a trial court is necessary. JTAC calls removing the check of local independence efficiency. We call it bad government.
  • The state court administration has consistently denied access to public court records in bulk from the state-sponsored system, even when the local courts join us in endorsing the request. This system is reducing public access to court records and subverting local government autonomy.
SB301 could be fixed if it were amended to allow local courts and clerks to use the proposed funding for the case management system of their choice as an alternative to the state-funded monopoly. If such an option were added, the fee could also be reasonably cut in half, as the alternatives are significantly cheaper.

Such an amendment would also guarantee continued funding for those counties already using the state-funded system. We're not opposed to having this system available as an option- We only oppose the State of Indiana allocating locally collected fees in a manner that forces counties to use a single vendor from out-of-state instead of freely choosing their own system from the open market.

If you'd like to join us by voicing your opinion on this bill, please contact your state legislator.

Bluffton City Court Joins Doxpop Fine Payment

Doxpop is pleased to welcome the Bluffton City Court to our on-line Fine Payment service. The Bluffton Court handles traffic citations for all of Wells County. Wells County is home to cities such as Bluffton, Markel, and Ossian, as well as Oubache State Park. Drivers who have gotten a citation in Wells County while driving through Interstate 69, Indiana State Road 3, or Indiana State Road 1, can go to payment.doxpop.com to quickly and conveniently pay their fines and fees.

Keep your eyes peeled for more Indiana counties to be added to Doxpop Fine Payment in the very near future.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Check Out This Video: Introduction to Doxpop

Have you seen our Introduction to Doxpop video? Make sure to share it with your friends!

Blackford County Recorder Joins Doxpop

Blackford County has just become the 15th Indiana County to allow recorded document information available on the web via Doxpop. Blackford County is also a part of the Doxpop's Free Property Watch Service designed to help eliminate property fraud. These services are provided on the web without the need of taxpayer money.

Local property owners who wish to receive email notification when documents referencing their property are filed by the Recorder may go to watch.doxpop.com to register. It costs nothing to use this free service.

Access to detailed index and image information is provided at www.doxpop.com as a subscription service designed to serve businesses. Recorded document index information dates back to January of 1992. Scanned images of recorded documents such as mortgages, deeds, and liens are available beginning in October of 2000. Doxpop now provides index information for 5.7 million Indiana recorded documents.

Doxpop would like to offer a very special thank you to Recorder Derinda Shady and First Deputy Patricia Mulholland for their long and patient efforts in bringing Doxpop to their county.