Mayor Kate Gallego said requests from content creators seeking footage for social media are adding to the workload. Some requesters, she said, come from outside Arizona or the United States and seek large volumes of records in hopes of finding material that will go viral.

“We want to prioritize the people who live in our community,” Gallego said in a radio interview. She added that Phoenix does not want to be the least expensive option for commercial users seeking material for click-driven content.

The Police Public Records and Services Bureau projects it will receive nearly 140,000 requests for documents, video and other records in 2026—almost 30% more than in 2024. The department says the increase exceeds its current capacity. Traffic-crash reports can take as long as six weeks, while video requests that require review and redaction may take more than two years.

The City Council recently approved changes to the fee schedule and additional staffing. The city says the higher charges, aimed largely at commercial users, are expected to help pay for permanent personnel. Temporary staffing will be funded with one-time savings in the police budget.

Under the new schedule, electronic document copies for noncommercial requests will remain free. Printed pages will cost 25 cents, up from 24 cents. Commercial document requests will carry a $10 flat fee plus 25 cents per page.

The first video copy with medium blur will be free. Additional video requests requiring redactions will cost $23 for each 30 minutes of review. Crime victims or their representatives can request one free copy of police records. Fees for 911 recordings, photographs and other media will not change.

The changes come as the city tries to balance growing demand and lengthy processing times with public access to police records. The fee structure retains free electronic documents for noncommercial requests, but people seeking additional redacted video may face costs tied to the time needed to review it.