Source: http://www.cbbt.com/foia-rights-responsibilities/
Timestamp: 2018-10-22 05:27:31
Document Index: 271656164

Matched Legal Cases: ['§2', '§2', '§2', '§2', '§2', '§2', '§2']

CBBT FOIA Rights & Responsibilities
> FOIA Rights & Responsibilities
The Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), located in §2.2-3700 et seq. of the Code of Virginia, guarantees citizens of the Commonwealth and representatives of the media access to public records held by public bodies, public officials, and public employees.
You have the right to request to inspect or receive copies of public records from the District, or both.
You may request records by U.S. Mail, fax, e-mail, in person, or over the phone, FOIA does not require that your request be in writing, nor do you need to specifically state that you are requesting records under FOIA.
○ From a practical perspective, it may be helpful to both you and the person receiving your request to put your request in writing. This allows you to create a record of your request. It also gives us a clear statement of what records you are requesting, so that there is no misunderstanding over a verbal request. However, we cannot refuse to respond to your FOIA request if you elect to not put it in writing.
Your request must ask for existing records or documents. FOIA gives you a right to inspect or copy records; it does not apply to a situation where you are asking general questions about the work of the District, nor does it require the District to create a record that does not exist.
○ For example, if you are requesting records maintained in an Excel database, you may elect to receive those records electronically, via e-mail or on a computer disk, or to receive a printed copy of those records.
To request records from the District, you may direct your request to Mr. Thomas R. Anderson, III, as the District’s FOIA Officer. He can be reached at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel District, 32386 Lankford Highway, Cape Charles, Virginia 23310; Telephone (757) 331-2960; Fax (757) 331-4565; E-mail tanderson@cbbt.com. You may also contact him with questions you have concerning requesting records from the District. In addition, the Freedom of Information Advisory Council is available to answer any questions you may have about FOIA. The Council may be contacted by e-mail at foiacouncil@dls.virginia.gov, or by phone at (804) 225-3056 or [toll free] 1-866-448-4100.
The District must respond to your request within five working days of receiving it. “Day One” is considered the day after your request is received. The five-day period does not include weekends or holidays.
The reason behind your request for public records from the District is irrelevant, and you do not have to state why you want the records before we respond to your request. FOIA does, however, allow the District to require you to provide your name and legal address.
3) We provide some of the records that you have requested, but withhold other records. We cannot withhold an entire record if only a portion of it is subject to an exemption. In that instance, we may redact the portion of the records that may be withheld, and must provide you with the remainder of the record. We must provide you with a written response stating the specific section of the Code of Virginia that allows portions of the requested records to be withheld.
5) If it is practically impossible for the District to respond to your request within the five-day period, we must state this in writing, explaining the conditions that make the response impossible. This will allow us seven additional working days to respond to your request, giving us a total of 12 working days to respond to your request.
You may have to pay for the records that you request from the District. FOIA allows us to charge for the actual costs of responding to FOIA requests. This would include items like staff time (salaries and benefits) spent searching for the requested records, copying costs, or any other costs directly related to supplying the requested records. It cannot include general overhead costs.
Records of contracts which the District has entered into
Records related to the construction, maintenance and operation of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel facility.
Traffic and/or revenue reports or projected traffic and revenue reports for the District
If you are unsure whether the District has the record(s) you seek, please contact Mr. Thomas R. Anderson, III, as the FOIA Officer directly at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel District, 32386 Lankford Highway, Cape Charles, Virginia 23310; Telephone (757) 331-2960; Fax (757) 331-4565; E-mail tanderson@cbbt.com.
Records subject to attorney-client privilege (§2.2-3705.1(2)) or attorney work product (§2.2-3705.1(3))
Vendor proprietary information (§2.2-3705.1(6))
Records relating to the negotiation and award of a contract, prior to a contract being awarded (§2.2-3705.1(12)) or the negotiation and award of a proposal filed under the Public Private Transportation Act of 1995, prior to an award thereunder (§2.2-3705.6(11))
Plans, drawings, manuals and other documentation and information which would jeopardize the public safety and security of the Bridge-Tunnel facility and its protection from terrorist activity (§2.2-3705.2)
The general policy of the District is to invoke the personnel records exemption in those instances where it applies in order to protect the privacy of employees and officials of the District.
The general policy of the District is to invoke the contract negotiations exemption whenever it applies in order to protect the District’s bargaining position and negotiating strategy.
The general policy of the District is to invoke the construction, maintenance and operation documentation exemption whenever it applies in order to protect the public safety and security of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel facility.