SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2026
VOL. III · NO. 524
Price: Free · Records open to the public
Public records, reported plainly — from every county in the Treasure State.
Established 2026
Edition SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2026
Helena —°F · Clear
Records 49,706
Blotters 849
Bookings 10,247
Court Ev. 519
Sanctions 35
Mt. Counties 56
Late Edition: Records refreshed SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2026 · 56 Counties updated within the last hour.
/ Know Your Rights

Free Course

Know Your Rights in Montana

A plain-English guide to the Montana Code Annotated — written for residents, drivers, renters, outdoorspeople, and parents. Every claim links to the current statute on leg.mt.gov.

7 chapters ~16,307 words Free to read Last reviewed 2026-08-08
Disclaimer

Not legal advice.

This course summarizes published Montana law. Statutes change. Verify every citation against the current text at leg.mt.gov/bills/mca and consult a licensed Montana attorney for your specific situation.

Editorial standards

Every claim in this course links to a primary Montana Code section on leg.mt.gov. Where a chapter refers to a real case, we cite the public court record. We do not invent scenarios, fictional stops, or made-up dispositions.

The site's Sourcing Standards and Corrections Policy control this course. If you spot a citation that has drifted from the current statute, email records@montanablotter.com with subject line Course Citation Update.

The chapters

1

When a police officer walks up to you

Stopped on the street, in your car, at your door. What you must do, what you may refuse, and what the MCA actually says.

2280 words · ~10 min read

2

Traffic stops and DUI

Why you were pulled over, implied consent, field sobriety, the 10-minute rule, what happens to your license.

2403 words · ~11 min read

3

Your home and your stuff

Warrants, consent searches, landlord entry, eviction notice, property on open range.

2570 words · ~12 min read

4

Outside: hunting, fishing, public land

Art. II §12 (constitutional carry), FWP stops, hunter orange, trespass to hunt, recording in the field.

2226 words · ~10 min read

5

If you are arrested or summoned

Miranda in Montana, the 48-hour rule, bonds, public defenders, how to read your charging document.

2011 words · ~9 min read

6

Kids, schools, and family

Search of a minor, school resource officers, CPS contact, juvenile court, parental rights.

1988 words · ~9 min read

7

Public records and open meetings

The Montana Public Records Act, how to file a request, exceptions, the Open Meeting Law, court records.

2829 words · ~13 min read

What this course is not

  • Not legal advice. If you are facing an actual legal problem, talk to a licensed Montana attorney. The Montana State Bar has a lawyer referral service.
  • Not a substitute for the MCA. The MCA is free and authoritative. This course paraphrases it.
  • Not a guarantee that citations will stay current. The Montana Legislature meets every two years. Statutes change. Email records@montanablotter.com if you find one that has drifted.

How this course is maintained

Montana Blotter is a small team in Great Falls. This course is updated annually after each regular session of the Montana Legislature, and on an ad-hoc basis when we receive a citation correction. Each chapter carries a last-reviewed date. The site's Sourcing Standards page explains our editorial process; the Corrections Policy explains how to report something that is wrong.

How to help

  • Report a citation drift. If a section number has changed or a statute has been amended, email us with the chapter number, the section heading, and the URL we linked.
  • Tell us what is missing. If a chapter glosses over the part you actually need, tell us.
  • Share the course. It is free and it is intended to be read. The link is montanablotter.com/learn.
  • Fund the work. Montana Blotter is supported by reader donations and a small handful of civic-tech sponsors. See the transparency page.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2026
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© 2026 Montana Blotter · Free Public Records
Editorial Standards

Montana Blotter is designed to make public records and public meeting information easier to access. It is not a government office, and it does not replace official notice, clerk records, court files, or agency databases.

1. Primary Source Rule
We prefer direct links to official county, city, court, sheriff, police, and state judiciary pages. Where possible, each page should point readers back to the original public record, agenda, minutes page, or official document listing.

2. What We Standardize
Date and time formatting — location and body-name labeling — document labels such as agenda, packet, or minutes — searchable statewide filters and metadata.

3. What We Do Not Claim
We do not claim to be the official keeper of public records. We do not guarantee that a third-party government site is complete, current, or correctly maintained. We do not treat summaries or extracted text as a substitute for the official source file.

4. Update Cadence
Automated sources are checked on a recurring basis. If a source is stale, broken, or moved, the originating public body remains the authoritative reference until the source is repaired.

5. Provenance and Visibility
We aim to show where information came from, when it was last refreshed, and how users can verify it.

6. Redactions and Sensitive Material
We may review records for obvious sensitivity, legal restrictions, or redaction issues. The existence of a public record does not automatically mean every field or derivative presentation should be amplified without review.

7. Corrections
If a source link breaks, a meeting is mislabeled, a record is duplicated, or a page needs clarification, see the Corrections Policy for the reporting workflow.

8. Government and Clerk Communications
If you work for a Montana public body and need a source updated, corrected, or removed, contact us directly. We prefer exact URLs, dates, and a brief explanation of the change.

9. Contact
Montana Blotter — records@montanablotter.com

Read full standards →
Corrections Policy

We want corrections requests to be specific, easy to verify, and fast to act on. The more concrete the report, the faster it can be reviewed.

1. What To Report
Broken official source links — moved agenda or minutes pages — incorrect meeting date, body name, or location label — duplicate records or meetings — stale source pages — material factual errors in a summary or description.

2. What To Include
The exact Montana Blotter URL — the exact official source URL that should be used — a short description of what is wrong — if timing matters, the date and time the official source changed.

3. Where To Send It
Email records@montanablotter.com with subject line Correction Request or Source Update. If you represent a government office, say so in the message.

4. Review Standard
We review corrections against the official source when available. If a report cannot be verified, we may ask for a clarifying URL, screenshot, or exact document reference before changing the page.

5. Response Goal
Our goal is to review straightforward source and labeling issues within two business days. Complex disputes, legal issues, and record-sensitivity questions may take longer.

6. How Fixes Are Handled
Broken or moved source URLs are updated at the source-config level when possible. Mislabeled dates, titles, or locations are corrected in the public presentation. If a government source removes or replaces a document, the official source controls.

7. Limits
A correction request does not automatically guarantee removal. Montana Blotter may preserve accurate public-record references while updating labels, links, timestamps, or explanatory text.

Read full corrections policy →
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