Definitions

Section 1226.20  Definitions Terms not defined in this Section shall have the same meaning as in the Freedom of Information Act [5 ILCS 140]. The following definitions are applicable for purposes of this Part: "Agency" means the Department of Transportation. "Commercial purpose" means the use of any part of a public record or records, or information derived from public records, in any form for sale, resale, or solicitation or advertisement for sales or services.  For purposes of this definition, requests made by news media and non-profit, scientific, or academic organizations shall not be considered to be made for a "commercial purpose" when the principal purpose of the request is: to access and disseminate information concerning news and current or passing events; for articles of opinion or features of interest to the public; or for the purpose of academic, scientific, or public research or education. (Section 2(c-10) of FOIA) "Copying" means the reproduction of any public record by means of any photographic, electronic, mechanical, or other process, device or means now known or hereafter developed and available to the Agency. (Section 2(d) of FOIA) "FOIA" means the Freedom of Information Act [5 ILCS 140]. "Freedom of Information Officer" or "FOI Officer" means an individual or individuals responsible for receiving and responding to requests for public records. "News media" means a newspaper or other periodical issued at regular intervals whether in print or electronic format, a news service whether in print or electronic format, a radio station, a television station, a television network, a community antenna television service, or person or corporation engaged in making news reels or other motion picture news for public showing. (Section 2(f) of FOIA) "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, organization or association, acting individually or as a group. (Section 2(b) of FOIA) "Private information" means unique identifiers, including a person's Social Security number, driver's license number, employee identification number, biometric identifiers, personal financial information, passwords or other access codes, medical records, home or personal telephone numbers, and personal email addresses.  Private information also includes home address and personal license plates, except as otherwise provided by law or when compiled without possibility of attribution to any person. (Section 2(c-5) of FOIA) "Public Access Counselor" means an individual appointed to that office by the Attorney General under Section 7 of the Attorney General Act [15 ILCS 205]. "Public body" means all legislative, executive, administrative, or advisory bodies of the State, state universities and colleges, counties, townships, cities, villages, incorporated towns, school districts and all other municipal corporations, boards, bureaus, committees or commissions of this State, any subsidiary bodies of any of the foregoing, including but not limited to committees and subcommittees thereof, and a School Finance Authority created under Article 1E of the School Code [105 ILCS 5]. (Section 2(a) of FOIA) "Public Records" means all records, reports, forms, writings, letters, memoranda, books, papers, maps, photographs, microfilms, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic data processing records, electronic communications, recorded information and all other documentary materials pertaining to the transaction of public business, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been prepared by or for, or having been or being used by, received by, in the possession of or under the control of the Agency. (Section 2(c) of FOIA) "Recurrent Requester" means a person that, in the 12 months immediately preceding the request, has submitted to the Agency, a minimum of 50 requests for records, a minimum of 15 requests for records within a 30-day period, or a minimum of 7 requests for records within a 7-day period.  For purposes of this definition, requests made by news media and non-profit, scientific, or academic organizations shall not be considered in calculating the number of requests made in the time periods in this definition when the principal purpose of the requests is to access and disseminate information concerning news and current or passing events, for articles of opinion or features of interest to the public, or for the purpose of academic, scientific, or public research or education. For the purposes of this definition , "request" means a written document (or oral request, if the Agency chooses to honor oral requests) that is submitted to the Agency via personal delivery, mail, telefax, electronic mail, or other means available to the Agency and that identifies the particular public record the requester seeks. One request may identify multiple records to be inspected or copied. (Section 2(g) of FOIA) "Requester" is any person who has submitted to the Agency a written request, electronically or on paper, for records. "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Agency. "Unwarranted invasion of personal privacy" means the disclosure of information that is highly personal or objectionable to a reasonable person and in which the subject's right to privacy outweighs any legitimate public interest in obtaining the information. (Section 7(1)(c) of FOIA)