{
 "topic": "FOIA section 7(1)(b) - Private information",
 "statute": "5 ILCS 140/7(1)(b)",
 "family": "FOIA exemptions (section 7)",
 "page": "https://illinoisfoia.org/issues/foia-7-1-b/",
 "note": "Determination letters are non-binding. Verify against the source PDF before citing.",
 "counts": {
  "violation_found": 12,
  "no_violation": 23,
  "no_determination": 3,
  "other": 2
 },
 "challenge_notes": {
  "generated_by": "AI summary of the decisions listed on this page; not legal advice; verify each decision against its PDF",
  "when_a_challenge_is_strong": [
   {
    "text": "The public body redacts business addresses, business telephone numbers, or business e-mail addresses.",
    "why": "Those do not identify an individual, so the Bureau found they are not private information under section 7(1)(b).",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Police records of a past burglary investigation",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51910/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Personnel files of three housing authority employees",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-71823/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Police reports and complaints about an individual",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-58607/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Animal research protocol and medical records",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-35091/#issue-6"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "The public body redacts employee names, middle initials, or dates of birth.",
    "why": "The Bureau found names, middle initials, and dates of birth are not private information under section 7(1)(b); D918.1 allowed home addresses and signatures but not names or dates of birth.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "A school district's credit card statements and bill list",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-77227/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Personnel files of three housing authority employees",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-71823/#issue-11"
     },
     {
      "title": "Police use-of-force reports for 2017",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-53887/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "The public body withholds a license plate number but does not show the plate can be attributed to a person, or redacts only a partial plate.",
    "why": "D978.1 found no showing that the plate numbers were private information attributable to individuals, and D906.3 held a partial plate that cannot be attributed to any person is not private information.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Parking ticket data fields from 2015 to 2022",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-70498/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Police records of a past burglary investigation",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51910/#issue-3"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "The public body redacts footnotes that reveal internal recordkeeping locations.",
    "why": "Footnotes are not private information or access codes, so they are not exempt under section 7(1)(b).",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Personnel files of three housing authority employees",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-71823/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "The public body withholds annual maintenance assessment rolls in their entirety as personal financial information.",
    "why": "Annual assessments relate to receipt of public funds and are subject to disclosure; the District did not show the amounts owed were personal financial information.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "A drainage district's maintenance assessment rolls and collector's books",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-73556/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   }
  ],
  "when_the_body_usually_wins": [
   {
    "text": "The public body redacts home addresses, personal telephone numbers, personal e-mail addresses, or an employee's home ZIP code.",
    "why": "These are private information when attributable to an individual, including when personal contact information was used for business purposes or a ZIP code is part of a home address.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Records on business transfer verification and tobacco licensing",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-86063/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Police incident reports, CAD notes, 911 audio, and body-camera footage of an arrest",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-85152/#issue-3"
     },
     {
      "title": "Employee salary and zip code data",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-86577/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "A private citizen's contact details in a dog bite incident report",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-82990/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Police reports and complaints about an individual",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-58607/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "The public body redacts unique identifiers such as driver's license numbers, dates of birth, employee identification numbers, or CPD user identification numbers.",
    "why": "The Bureau upheld these as private information under section 7(1)(b) in multiple decisions.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Crash report with driver's personal identifiers",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-85584/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "A police report with redacted personal identifiers",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-80926/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Personnel records of police, fire, and water department employees",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-64908/#issue-3"
     },
     {
      "title": "Police records of a past burglary investigation",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51910/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "The public body redacts a license plate number from an audio recording.",
    "why": "A license plate number is private information exempt from disclosure under section 7(1)(b).",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Police dashcam and body-camera footage of a traffic stop",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-76612/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "The public body withholds fingerprints or DNA.",
    "why": "Fingerprints and DNA are biometric identifiers and thus exempt private information under section 2(c-5).",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "A police department's fingerprints and DNA records",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-40554/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "The public body redacts signatures or personal emergency contact telephone numbers.",
    "why": "Signatures and personal emergency contact telephone numbers are private information exempt from disclosure.",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Animal research protocol and medical records",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-35091/#issue-5"
     },
     {
      "title": "A transit district's bus driver personnel file",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-40605/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Lease agreements for business or remodeling licenses",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-77566/#issue-2"
     }
    ]
   }
  ],
  "points_to_put_in_the_letter": [
   {
    "text": "Separate personal information from business information: business addresses, business phone numbers, and business e-mail addresses are not private information under 7(1)(b), so request them.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Police records of a past burglary investigation",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51910/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Personnel files of three housing authority employees",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-71823/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Police reports and complaints about an individual",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-58607/#issue-2"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "If a name, middle initial, or date of birth is redacted, state that these are not private information under 7(1)(b) and ask the public body to identify another exemption.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "A school district's credit card statements and bill list",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-77227/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Personnel files of three housing authority employees",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-71823/#issue-11"
     },
     {
      "title": "Police use-of-force reports for 2017",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-53887/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "If a license plate is redacted, ask the public body to show how it can be attributed to a person; a partial or unproven plate is not enough.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Parking ticket data fields from 2015 to 2022",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-70498/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Police records of a past burglary investigation",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51910/#issue-3"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "If whole records such as assessment rolls are withheld, request the portions showing receipt of public funds and challenge the claim that amounts owed are personal financial information.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "A drainage district's maintenance assessment rolls and collector's books",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-73556/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "Challenge redaction of footnotes or internal recordkeeping locations; they are not private information or access codes.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Personnel files of three housing authority employees",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-71823/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   }
  ],
  "facts_to_gather": [
   "Whether the redacted or withheld information identifies an individual or a business/entity.",
   "Which specific identifiers were redacted or withheld (e.g., home address, personal phone, business phone, name, middle initial, date of birth, full or partial license plate).",
   "What the record is and whether it involves public funds, assessments, police reports, or witness statements.",
   "Whether the public body cited only section 7(1)(b) and whether it explained who the redaction protects."
  ],
  "common_mistakes": [
   {
    "text": "Assuming any contact information redacted from a record is private; business addresses, business phone numbers, and business e-mail addresses are not private information.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Police records of a past burglary investigation",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51910/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Personnel files of three housing authority employees",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-71823/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Police reports and complaints about an individual",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-58607/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Animal research protocol and medical records",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-35091/#issue-6"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "Assuming names, middle initials, or dates of birth are always private under 7(1)(b); the Bureau found they are not private information.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "A school district's credit card statements and bill list",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-77227/#issue-2"
     },
     {
      "title": "Personnel files of three housing authority employees",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-71823/#issue-11"
     },
     {
      "title": "Police use-of-force reports for 2017",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-53887/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "Assuming all license plate redactions are automatically proper; the Bureau has found violations when the plate was partial or not shown to be attributable to an individual.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Parking ticket data fields from 2015 to 2022",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-70498/#issue-1"
     },
     {
      "title": "Police records of a past burglary investigation",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51910/#issue-3"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "Failing to contest redactions; if the requester does not contest them, the Bureau may decline to decide their propriety.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Applications, scores, and evaluation notes for cultural districts program",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-80603/#issue-5"
     }
    ]
   },
   {
    "text": "Assuming the private information exemption expires because a record is old or was used in court; the Bureau has said it does not expire on those grounds.",
    "why": "",
    "decisions": [
     {
      "title": "Investigative records and photos of a 1992 murder case",
      "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-62344/#issue-1"
     }
    ]
   }
  ],
  "caution": "These letters are non-binding, outcomes depend on the specific facts and how the public body justifies each redaction, and you should verify the underlying PDFs before relying on them."
 },
 "issues": [
  {
   "issue": "Withholding employee home zip codes as private information",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "A municipal employee's zip code is a constituent part of a home address and is exempt private information when attributable to an individual.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Employee salary and zip code data",
    "date": "2025-05-27",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-86577/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Hites v. Waubonsee Community College, 2016 IL App (2d) 150836",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/2016%20IL%20App%20(2d)%20150836/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Lebron v. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, 237 Ill. 2d 217, 236 (2010)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 9808",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 51699",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 77763",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of private information under section 7(1)(b)",
   "outcome": "other",
   "rule": "The Department properly redacted unique identifiers like driver's license number, home address, and phone number, but improperly redacted witness statements not meeting the definition of private information.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "A police report of a DUI arrest and vehicle impoundment",
    "date": "2024-08-21",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-82136/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of personal contact information under section 7(1)(b)",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Personal phone numbers, personal email addresses, and home addresses are private information exempt from disclosure even when used for business purposes.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Records on business transfer verification and tobacco licensing",
    "date": "2025-04-22",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-86063/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 17464, issued January 16, 2011, at 2-3",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Withholding driver's home address, license number, and birth date",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Private information such as home address, driver's license number, and date of birth is exempt from disclosure under section 7(1)(b).",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Crash report with driver's personal identifiers",
    "date": "2025-03-27",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-85584/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. Pub. Acc. Op. No. 24-012, issued October 22, 2024",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/2024-pac-81978/"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of private information from police reports",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "A public body may redact private information such as home addresses and personal telephone numbers under the private information exemption.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Police reports on child custody incidents",
    "date": "2025-03-17",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-85555/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redactions in police report under FOIA sections 7(1)(b) and 7(1)(c)",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Private information like unique identifiers is exempt, and disclosure of details of an investigation that did not result in arrest or charges would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Police reports and body camera footage of an incident involving a minor",
    "date": "2025-07-29",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-85480/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Southern Illinoisan v. Illinois Department of Public Health, 218 Ill. 2d 390, 415 (2006)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Lieber v. Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, 176 Ill. 2d 401, 407 (1997)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Chicago Journeymen Plumbers' Local Union 130 v. Department of Public Health, 327 Ill. App. 3d 192, 196 (2001)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Chicago Alliance for Neighborhood Safety v. City of Chicago, 348 Ill. App. 3d 188, 211 (2004) (quoting Lakin Law Firm, P.C. v. F.T.C., 352 F.3d 1122, 1124 (7th Cir. 2003))",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics in Washington v. United States Department of Justice, 846 F. Supp. 2d 63, 71 (D.D.C. 2012) quoting American Civil Liberties Union v. United States Department of Justice, 655 F.3d 1, 7 D.C. Cir. 2011)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 37700, issued January 13, 2016",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of private information from report and CAD notes",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Private information including driver's license numbers, personal telephone numbers, and home addresses is exempt from disclosure under section 7(1)(b).",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Police incident reports, CAD notes, 911 audio, and body-camera footage of an arrest",
    "date": "2025-04-10",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-85152/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of home address and phone number",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Home addresses and home or personal telephone numbers are private information exempt from disclosure under FOIA, even if the requester needs them for reimbursement.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "A private citizen's contact details in a dog bite incident report",
    "date": "2024-09-25",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-82990/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of private information under section 7(1)(b)",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "A public body may redact private information, including home telephone numbers, home addresses, driver's license numbers, and dates of birth, under the section 7(1)(b) exemption.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "A police report with redacted personal identifiers",
    "date": "2024-05-01",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-80926/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. Pub. Acc. Op. No 16-009",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/2016-pac-43168/"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redactions under section 7(1)(b) for private information",
   "outcome": "no_determination",
   "rule": "The requester did not contest the redactions, so the Public Access Bureau did not decide their propriety.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Applications, scores, and evaluation notes for cultural districts program",
    "date": "2024-11-22",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-80603/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of personal email addresses and cell phone numbers",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Personal email addresses and personal telephone numbers are private information under section 2(c-5) and may be redacted under section 7(1)(b).",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Athletic department correspondence with an NIL group",
    "date": "2024-11-22",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-80318/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of signatures under section 7(1)(b)",
   "outcome": "other",
   "rule": "Signatures are private information that may be redacted from otherwise disclosable records.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Lease agreements for business or remodeling licenses",
    "date": "2024-04-10",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-77566/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 46798, issued March 16, 2017",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of employee names and airline ticket details",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "Names of public employees and airline ticket numbers are not private information under section 7(1)(b) and were improperly redacted.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "A school district's credit card statements and bill list",
    "date": "2023-09-19",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-77227/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Lieber v. Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, 176 Ill. 2d 401, 411-12 (1997)",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of license plate from audio recording",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "A license plate number is private information exempt from disclosure under section 7(1)(b), so redacting it does not violate FOIA.",
   "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": "Withholding annual maintenance assessment rolls in their entirety",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "Annual assessments relate to receipt of public funds and are subject to disclosure; the District did not show the amounts owed were personal financial information.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "A drainage district's maintenance assessment rolls and collector's books",
    "date": "2023-07-31",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-73556/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. Pub. Acc. Op. No. 18-002, issued February 14, 2018",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/2017-pac-50286/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. Pub. Acc. Op. No. 12-003, issued January 18, 2012",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Timpone v. Illinois Student Assistance Comm'n, 2019 IL App (1st) 181115, 147 N.E.3d 873 (2019)",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/2019%20IL%20App%20(1st)%20181115/"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of landowner home addresses",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Home addresses of property owners may be redacted as private information under section 7(1)(b).",
   "decision": {
    "title": "A drainage district's maintenance assessment rolls and collector's books",
    "date": "2023-07-31",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-73556/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 51203, issued August 2, 2018",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of business addresses of companies and incorporated farming operations",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "Addresses of properties owned by companies or incorporated farming operations are business addresses not within the private information exemption.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "A drainage district's maintenance assessment rolls and collector's books",
    "date": "2023-07-31",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-73556/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 48986, issued July 1, 2020",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Footnotes in documents",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "Footnotes revealing internal recordkeeping locations are not private information or access codes, so they are not exempt under section 7(1)(b).",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Personnel files of three housing authority employees",
    "date": "2023-06-23",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-71823/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Business information redactions",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "Business information such as business addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses does not identify individuals and is not exempt under section 7(1)(b).",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Personnel files of three housing authority employees",
    "date": "2023-06-23",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-71823/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 48986",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 22902",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 23125",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Middle initials of employee names",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "Middle initials are not unique identifiers under section 7(1)(b) and do not constitute private information.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Personnel files of three housing authority employees",
    "date": "2023-06-23",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-71823/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. Pub. Acc. Op. No. 12-003",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Timpone v. Illinois Student Assistance Comm'n",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/2019%20IL%20App%20(1st)%20181115/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Lieber v. Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of private information under section 7(1)(b)",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Private information such as home addresses, phone numbers, signatures, employee IDs, and driver's license numbers is exempt from disclosure under section 7(1)(b).",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Police call records for a residence",
    "date": "2022-10-16",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-71207/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Medical records exempt under section 7(1)(b)",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Medical records are private information exempt from disclosure under section 7(1)(b), and no exception exists for de-identified medical records.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Disability claim evaluation records for SURS members",
    "date": "2022-05-04",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-70898/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Paris v. Feder, 179 Ill. 2d 173, 177 (1997)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "People v. Roberts, 214 Ill. 2d 106, 116 (2005)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 23175, issued May 12, 2015, at 3",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Withholding license plate numbers under section 7(1)(b)",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "The Department failed to show that license plate numbers are private information attributable to individuals, so the exemption does not apply.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Parking ticket data fields from 2015 to 2022",
    "date": "2023-03-02",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-70498/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of private information under 7(1)(b)",
   "outcome": "no_determination",
   "rule": "The College must redact private information as defined in section 2(c-5) before disclosing the records.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Disciplinary reports from a community college",
    "date": "2021-12-02",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-68242/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Employee identification numbers exempt as private information under 7(1)(b)",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Section 7(1)(b) exempts private information, which includes employee identification numbers.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Personnel records of police, fire, and water department employees",
    "date": "2021-01-28",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-64908/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of private information under section 7(1)(b)",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Private information such as unique identifiers, home addresses, and personal phone numbers is exempt from disclosure and the exemption does not expire based on the age of the records or prior court use.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Investigative records and photos of a 1992 murder case",
    "date": "2024-11-21",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-62344/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Permissible redaction of private information",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "The City may redact unique identifiers that constitute private information.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Police incident report for case 2019-48357",
    "date": "2020-03-11",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-61099/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of personal phone numbers and home addresses",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Home addresses and personal phone numbers are private information and exempt from disclosure under section 7(1)(b).",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Police reports and complaints about an individual",
    "date": "2023-05-25",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-58607/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of business phone numbers",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "Phone numbers of businesses are not exempt under section 7(1)(b) because private information is limited to unique identifiers of persons.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Police reports and complaints about an individual",
    "date": "2023-05-25",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-58607/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 48461",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of personal telephone number",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "A personal telephone number is exempt from disclosure under the personal privacy exemption.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "A village's legal invoice redactions and copying fees",
    "date": "2019-04-08",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-56112/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Section 7(1)(b) private information redaction",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "Names and dates of birth are not private information, but home addresses and signatures may be redacted under section 7(1)(b).",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Police use-of-force reports for 2017",
    "date": "2018-09-13",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-53887/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Lieber v. Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, 176 Ill. 2d 401 (1997)",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Permissible redaction of private information",
   "outcome": "no_determination",
   "rule": "Private information such as personal telephone numbers, home addresses, and employee identification numbers may be redacted from otherwise responsive records.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "An investigation of police officers",
    "date": "2018-06-27",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-52348/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of private information under 7(1)(b)",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Employee identification numbers, home addresses, personal phone numbers, and CPD user identification numbers are private information and properly redacted.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Police records of a past burglary investigation",
    "date": "2018-04-17",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51910/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 45656",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of business addresses and phone numbers under 7(1)(b)",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "Business addresses and telephone numbers are not private information and cannot be redacted under section 7(1)(b).",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Police records of a past burglary investigation",
    "date": "2018-04-17",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51910/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 22902",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 23125",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of partial personal license plate number under 7(1)(b)",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "A partial license plate number that cannot be attributed to any person is not private information and cannot be redacted.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Police records of a past burglary investigation",
    "date": "2018-04-17",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-51910/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  },
  {
   "issue": "Private information redaction under section 7(1)(b)",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Social security numbers, driver's license numbers, home addresses, personal telephone numbers, and signatures are private information that may be redacted.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "A transit district's bus driver personnel file",
    "date": "2018-04-13",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-40605/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. Pub. Acc. Op. No. 14-015",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/2014-pac-30785/"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Withholding fingerprints and DNA as private information",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Fingerprints and DNA are biometric identifiers and thus exempt private information under section 2(c-5), so the Department properly withheld them.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "A police department's fingerprints and DNA records",
    "date": "2016-03-18",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-40554/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "People v. Taylor, 221 Ill. 2d 157, 161 n. 1 (2006)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "III. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 12531, issued May 22, 2012, at 3",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Permissible redactions of unique identifiers and dates of birth",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "The City may redact unique identifiers as private information and dates of birth under FOIA section 7(1)(c).",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Disciplinary records and citizen complaints for three police officers",
    "date": "2016-02-11",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-39260/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 20376",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of signatures and personal emergency contact numbers",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Signatures and personal emergency contact telephone numbers are private information exempt from disclosure.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Animal research protocol and medical records",
    "date": "2015-07-14",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-35091/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Ill. Att'y Gen. PAC Req. Rev. Ltr. 18410, issued April 5, 2012",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of business addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "Business addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses are not private information because they do not uniquely identify individuals.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Animal research protocol and medical records",
    "date": "2015-07-14",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-35091/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  }
 ]
}