Providing Requestor’s Name, Personal Information
Q: Am I required to provide my name and contact number when requesting a public record?
A: If you walk into an agency and ask to see a particular record or records, I am not aware of any requirement that you provide your name or other identifying information in order to view the records.
However, as a practical matter, if you are submitting a request in writing the agency may need to know where (and to whom) to send the records.
In addition, if the agency is attempting to determine whether to withhold records under Government Code section 6255, on the ground that the public interest in non-disclosure clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure, it may want to know who is requesting the records, and for what reason, in order to conduct that balancing test.