Sec. 160.1. Purpose and scope and definitions

(a) Purpose and scope.

(1) The people's right to know the process of government decisionmaking and the documents and statistics leading to determinations is basic to our society. Access to such information should not be thwarted by shrouding it with the cloak of secrecy or confidentiality.

(2) This Part provides information concerning the procedures by which records may be obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

(3) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall furnish to the public the information and records required by the Freedom of Information Law and those which were furnished to the public prior to its enactment.

(b) Definitions.

(1) Record means any information kept, held, filed, produced or reproduced by, with or for an agency or the State Legislature, in any physical form whatsoever, including but not limited to reports, statements, examinations, memoranda, opinions, folders, files, books, manuals, pamphlets, forms, papers, designs, drawings, maps, photos, letters, microfilms, computer tapes or discs, rules, regulations or codes.

(2) Publication means a type of record produced by the Department of Motor Vehicles specifically for distribution to the general public.

(3) Manual means a type of record, which may be in any printed format, produced by the Department of Motor Vehicles specifically to provide instruction and/or reference material to a selected public and/or departmental employees; provided, however, a driver's manual shall mean the manual produced by the Department of Motor Vehicles specifically to provide instruction to an applicant for a learner's permit pursuant to subdivision 3 of section 502 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law.

(4) A selected public means a group of persons performing the same function (i.e., motor vehicle dealers, law enforcement personnel, driving schools, etc.).