The Minnesota Data Practices Act pledges its inhabitants the right to research, look at, and recover records held by municipalities across the state, including documents, car transgressions, marriage and divorce licenses, property and lien records, and a lot more. All significant specifics on the various happenings of law enforcement, city courts, and local government are within these records, and generally are deemed public unless legally redacted. Residents of Austin are able to better recognize their rights thanks to these laws, and the transparency offered by the release of these records helps to keep both criminals and authorities responsible with regard to their actions, in turn resulting in a more open and free society for all.