{
 "topic": "FOIA section 3(c)",
 "statute": "5 ILCS 140/3(c)",
 "family": "Responding to requests: deadlines, extensions, copies",
 "page": "https://illinoisfoia.org/issues/foia-3-c/",
 "note": "Determination letters are non-binding. Verify against the source PDF before citing.",
 "counts": {
  "violation_found": 2,
  "no_violation": 0,
  "no_determination": 1,
  "other": 0
 },
 "challenge_notes": null,
 "issues": [
  {
   "issue": "Requiring a form to obtain video recordings",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "A public body may not require that a FOIA request be submitted on a standard form.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Police dashcam and body-camera footage of a traffic stop",
    "date": "2024-05-06",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-76612/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Whether Patton's email was a valid FOIA request",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "A FOIA request may be submitted by any means available to the public body, including email to the FOIA officer, and no standard form may be required.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Park district officials' communications about district business",
    "date": "2020-01-16",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-59166/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "FOIA request sent to personal email not directed to public body",
   "outcome": "no_determination",
   "rule": "A FOIA request must be directed to the public body; sending it to an official's personal email address does not constitute proper delivery unless that address is used for public business.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "A FOIA request sent to a township clerk's personal email",
    "date": "2017-11-17",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-50407/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. Pub. Acc. Op. No. 12-004, issued January 26, 2012, at 3",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  }
 ]
}