Subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, public records are obtainable by members of the public when those members of the public comply with the following procedures.

(1) The commission shall honor requests received in person during the commission's normal office hours, or by mail or email, unless exempted by provisions in this chapter. A request shall be addressed to the public records officer. Such request shall include the following in the public disclosure request:

(a) The name of the person requesting the record and their contact information.

(b) The time of day and calendar date on which the request was made.

(c) If the matter requested is referenced within the current index maintained by the Washington traffic safety commission, a reference to the requested record as it is described in such current index.

(d) If the requested matter is not identifiable by reference to the Washington traffic safety commission's current index, a statement that identifies the specific record requested.

(e) A verification that the records requested shall not be used to compile a commercial sales list.

(2) The public records officer shall inform the member of the public making the request within five business days of receiving a public record request by either:

(a) Providing the record;

(b) Providing an internet address and link on the agency's website to the specific records requested, except that if the requestor notifies the agency that he or she cannot access the records through the internet, then the agency must provide copies of the record or allow the requestor to view copies using an agency computer;

(c) Acknowledging that the agency has received the request and providing a reasonable estimate of the time the agency will require to respond to the request; or

(d) Denying the public record request (RCW 42.56.520).

(3) When it appears that a request for a record is made by or on behalf of a party to a lawsuit or a controversy to which the commission is also a party (or when such a request is made by or on behalf of an attorney for such a party) the request shall be referred to the assistant attorney general assigned to the commission for appropriate response.