FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION

OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT

 

In the Matter of a Complaint by                        FINAL DECISION

 

Ann Bushaw,

 

                        Complainant

 

            against              Docket #FIC 87-21

 

State of Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles,

 

                        Respondent                  March 25, 1987

 

            The above-captioned matter was heard as a contested case on March 5, 1987, at which time the complainant and the respondent appeared, stipulated to certain facts and presented testimony, exhibits and argument on the complaint.

 

            After consideration of the entire record, the following facts are found:

 

            1.  The respondent is a public agency within the meaning of 1-18a(a), G.S.

 

            2.  On or about January 15, 1987 the complainant made a request of the respondent for a list of registered boat owners in the State of Connecticut.

 

            3.  By letter of complaint filed with the Commission on January 28, 1987, the complainant alleged that the respondent violated the Freedom of Information Act by requiring her to purchase the entire list consisting of 77,000 names, at a cost of $0.75 per name.

 

            4.  At the hearing before the Commission, the complainant explained that she is only interested in obtainig a list of registered owners with powerboats 24 feet or longer.

 

            5.  It is found that the respondent's "boat registration master file" contains approximately 200,000 names of registered boat owners.

 

            6.  It is further found that the respondent would have to create a special computer program to extract the information that is being sought by the complainant.

 

Docket #FIC 87-21                                Page 2

 

            7.  It is found that the creation of a computer program, which is necessary to comply with the complainant's request, is not required by any provision of the Freedom of Information Act.

 

            8.  It is therefore concluded that the respondent's failure to comply with the request did not violate 1-15 or 1-19(a), G.S.

 

            The following order by the Commission is hereby recommended on the basis of the record concerning the above-captioned complaint:

 

            1.  The complaint is hereby dismissed.

 

            Approved by order of the Freedom of Information Commission at its regular meeting of March 25, 1987.

 

                                                         ÿ

                                    Karen J. Haggett

                                    Clerk of the Commission