(a) The time to obtain copies of and inspect department records shall be during all hours the department is regularly open for business. A location properly identified by a sign shall be open for the acceptance of inquiries and requests for printed records and material at the following department offices:

(b) Each designated location will have available for public inspection the current listing by category of department records.

Written or telephone requests for appointments to inspect records available under the law shall be directed to the following as records access officers of the department:

Inquiries and requests for records that are to be made available under the law that are not readily available shall be acted upon expeditiously by the department and arrangements promptly made for the inspection and/or copying thereof. Except under extraordinary circumstances, responses to requests shall be made no more than five working days after receipt of the request, written or oral, by the department. If more than five days is required to produce records, the department shall acknowledge receipt of the request within five working days after the request is received, giving a brief explanation of the reason for delay and an estimate of the date that the records or denial will be forthcoming.

(e) Denial of access to records shall be in writing, stating the reason therefor and advising the requestor of his right to appeal as provided in section 1.5 of this Part. If access to records is neither granted nor denied within 10 business days after the date of acknowledgment of receipt of request, the request may be construed as a denial of access that may be appealed.