Missouri state laws stipulate that records showing municipal decisions including court papers, police arrest records, marriage licenses, traffic violations and more are open and accessible to the populace, largely due to the 1973 Missouri Sunshine Law. This data contain titles, times, specifications on situations, sentences, proceedings and more, and generally are all assumed public unless otherwise stated. This legislation, which had been generally in line with the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, are in place to ensure U.S. Citizens and occupants of Webster Groves are able to understand their own protection under the law, and hold authorities and criminals liable with regard to their actions, supporting a free and open culture for everyone.