Washington state guidelines dictate that records recording municipal actions for example court papers, arrest records, marriage licenses, vehicular transgressions and more are open and available to the populace, largely due to the Washington's 1973 Public Records Act. All relevant information about the multitude of happenings of law enforcement officials, local courts, and local government are contained in these records, and are presumed public unless officially redacted. People of Addy are able to better recognize their rights because of these laws, and the transparency available from the release of these records maintains both criminals and regulators responsible with regard to their actions, in turn resulting in a more open and free society for all.