How do I petition the court for gas station surveillance footage... without a lawyer?

Civil Law Forum
1

Hey everyone, I’m trying to get some surveillance footage from a gas station but IDK how to petition the court for it without a lawyer. Has anyone done this before? Any tips or advice would be super helpful!

2

I’ve been there! You don’t need a lawyer for this. You can file a motion with the court asking for the footage. You’ll have to show a reason why you need it though.

3

Lior said:
I’ve been there! You don’t need a lawyer for this. You can file a motion with the court asking for the footage. You’ll have to show a reason why you need it though.

Wait, you can actually do that without a lawyer? I thought it had to go through one.

4

@Ripley
Yeah, you can do it yourself! It’s just paperwork, but it’s good to know what to say in your petition. Courts are used to this kind of request.

5

You might need to know exactly what you’re asking for in the footage. Like the date and time—helps to be as specific as possible.

6

Blake said:
You might need to know exactly what you’re asking for in the footage. Like the date and time—helps to be as specific as possible.

Gotcha, I was thinking of just asking for all the footage. So I need to narrow it down?

7

@Gracen
Yep, narrowing it down makes it easier for the court to process your request. If you can give them a specific timeframe, it’ll go smoother.

8

It’s also a good idea to check with the gas station first. Sometimes they’re willing to release footage without involving the court if you explain your situation.

9

Finnian said:
It’s also a good idea to check with the gas station first. Sometimes they’re willing to release footage without involving the court if you explain your situation.

Oh, didn’t even think of that! I guess it’s worth asking them directly before going to the court.

10

Definitely try asking the gas station first, but if they say no, then you’ll probably need to go through the court. Just make sure your motion is clear and concise!

11

Just an FYI, if you go through the court, be ready for a bit of a wait. It can take some time to process those requests.

12

Huxley said:
Just an FYI, if you go through the court, be ready for a bit of a wait. It can take some time to process those requests.

Yeah, I’ve heard it can take a while. Hopefully, it won’t be too long though. Thanks for the heads up!