Evidence/Morton Act Requests

The City of Coppell makes available copies of evidence to those who have been issued citations for minor offenses, including traffic tickets. The evidence, which may include videos of offenses and traffic stops, may be made available to defendants and their attorneys but is not available to the general public. If a case is pending, a defendant should still file a motion for discovery or a request for disclosure with the City's municipal court, but the availability of evidence through Evidence/Morton Act Request form.

To request information, you must be a defendant (someone who has been charged in the City's municipal court with a class C misdemeanor offense}, or a licensed attorney representing a defendant. 

Any Police Department's disclosures resulting from a request are fulfilled under a law called the "Morton Act," which is codified in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. It is not under the Public Information Act and the rules for the release and use of information under the Public Information Act are different. Morton Act disclosures are available only to defendants and their attorneys. If you are not a defendant, you may not request information about a pending case through this request form. And if you are not represented by an attorney, the Police Department may decline to release information relating to an arrest or an investigation. If this is the case, you should discuss this with the City's prosecutor or court staff.

Once evidence is released, it may not be shared with third parties. By law, information disclosed to a defendant or defendant's attorney may not be disclosed to third parties unless a court order allows it. Defense attorneys may show information obtained through the Police Department to their clients and witnesses but are not permitted by law to give copies. State law also regards certain categories of information as confidential and if the records contain confidential information, it may be redacted prior to release.

This Evidence/Morton Act Request form is intended to provide an easier way to see your evidence in minor cases and is not intended to be a substitute for judicial process. The information may not be all the evidence that might be used in the case if a trial were held. A defendant and defense attorneys should continue to submit proper requests under the Morton Act to the court.

Access the Evidence/Morton Act Request form.