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MTC/511 respects your privacy and recognizes your desire for appropriate protection of any Personal Information you share with us. MTC/511 has established this Privacy Notice so that you can understand the care with which we treat your Personal Information.
Information Gathered
Personal Information means individually identifiable information, such as a first and last name, a home or other physical address, phone number, or an e-mail address or other contact information, whether at work or at home.
We assure you that we do not:
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Collect Personal Information except when you permit it; or
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Sell, rent, or otherwise provide any Personal Information to third parties for commercial use.
We do:
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Use voluntarily provided Personal Information for the benefit of the 511 program and the user experience, as described in this Privacy Policy;
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Forward e-mails and phone messages that ask questions or provide comments on services provided by rideshare programs, transit agencies, Caltrans, and other public agencies for their response;
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Use standard web and phone technologies to generate aggregate usage statistics in order to improve the user experience and system performance; and
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Use third-party contractors to operate our 511 services, who will have access to Personal Information solely for the benefit of the program and will be required to comply with privacy policies as provided in this Notice.
511 Programs
Various 511 programs may collect and use Personal Information. The treatment of Personal Information in each of these types of programs is described in the three sections that follow.
511 Driving TimesSM
In the 511 Driving TimesSM service, MTC/511 operates a data collection system based on FasTrak® toll tags to provide better information about the transportation network to Bay Area travelers, transportation managers, and transportation planners.
In matters concerning traffic data collection, MTC/511 will take the following steps to ensure the protection of personal information:
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The tag users' consent will be secured via a FasTrakâ toll tag license agreement before the operation of any data collection system based on toll tags.
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Encryption software in the central software system will mask each tag ID before any other processing is done to ensure that the toll tags are treated anonymously.
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The encrypted tag IDs will be retained for no longer than twenty-four hours and then discarded. No historical database of the encrypted IDs will be maintained beyond that time period.
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Every two years, or the year following any major change in the 511 Driving Times system (whichever occurs first), a comprehensive assessment of privacy protection will be performed
511 Phone Services
The 511 phone system records your phone number, the date, time and duration of your call, and what you asked the system. The call information is used to compile anonymous data to improve 511 services. In addition, when callers select such functions as making comments or suggestions or voluntary participation in phone surveys, troubleshooting, contests and special promotions, they choose to provide additional Personal Information. Calls asking about agency-specific services may be transferred to those agencies, at which point the privacy policy of the receiving agency applies to the call and any Personal Information provided or collected.
511.org Web Services
MTC/511 operate several web-based 511.org programs that may collect Personal Information.
511 Rideshare RideMatch and Bike Buddy RideMatch Services
In order to use the 511 Rideshare RideMatch Service and Bike Buddy RideMatch service, you must first complete the online registration form. In the process of that registration, 511.org collects Personal Information such as first and last name, e-mail address, home and work address, and home and work telephone numbers; and we disclose and publish your first and last name, e-mail, employer name, and the telephone number that you choose to share with other participants in the particular program for use as part of the services. We also publish the relative geographic locations of participants in the particular program to the other participants, such as by showing dots on a map that may show the general neighborhood or location (though not specific home or work addresses). MTC/511 will share Personal Information with other government-funded rideshare agencies for ridesharing purposes only. Personal Information will only be used to facilitate ridematches and to provide you with coordinated information about products, services and special campaigns that encourage the use of alternatives to driving alone. In addition, you may receive e-mail messages from the 511 Rideshare RideMatch Service program administrators requesting you to review and update your Personal Information or phone calls to provide follow-up assistance.
MY 511
In order to use the MY 511 service, you must first complete the online registration form on the 511.org website and create a user name and password; and in that process, we collect Personal Information such as first and last name and e-mail address. At your option, we may also collect Personal Information such as cell/landline phone numbers or other information to send messages to your e-mail address, cell phone, handheld device, or other mobile device. The MY 511 phone service will use registrants' phone numbers, saved during user set-up, to recognize them when calling 511. We do not publish or disclose this Personal Information to third parties, with the exception of our MTC/511 contractors who have agreed to comply with this privacy policy. We also save registrants' trip profiles (traffic and/or transit) to allow for prompt receipt of traveler information when accessing 511 on the phone and/or web. In addition, you may receive e-mail messages from the MY 511 program administrators requesting you to review and update your Personal Information or phone calls to provide follow-up assistance.
Other 511.org Online Programs
From time to time, 511.org may sponsor online customer surveys, contests or other promotional programs, such as Friends of 511, Bike to Work Day, Team Bike Challenge, and Rideshare Rewards; and we may request Personal Information when you register for these online contests or other promotional programs offered by 511.org. This Personal Information may include your name, e-mail address, phone number, and address. As part of these promotions, we may also provide you with program updates, newsletters, and special offers. Personal Information is collected as part of online surveys only if it is voluntarily provided.
Of course, you do not need to provide the Personal Information requested as part of these 511.org web-based programs or services, though you may not be able to use some or all of the features of certain programs or services without providing the information. The 511.org website and the services provided through it are directed only to adults and children who are age 13 and older; MTC/511 do not knowingly collect information about any person or user who is under 13.
To the extent that you do provide us with Personal Information, MTC/511 wish to maintain accurate Personal Information. Where we collect Personal Information from you on the web, our goal is to provide a means of contacting MTC/511 should you need to update or correct that Information or withdraw from a 511 program. You will be provided with account access to update your Personal Information through a user name and password selected by you. If for any reason you are unable to access your account, you can notify us via the comment form on the 511.org website.
511.org Cookies
Some 511.org web pages use "cookies." A "cookie" is a small text file that may be used, for example, to collect information about website activity or to recognize your computer when you return to 511.org. Some cookies and other technologies that trace web activity may serve to recall Personal Information previously indicated by a web user. Most browsers allow you to control cookies, including whether or not to accept them and how to remove them. The "help" portion of the toolbar on most browsers will tell you how to prevent your browser from accepting new cookies, how to have the browser notify you when you receive a new cookie, or how to disable cookies altogether. However, cookies allow you to take full advantage of some of 511.org’s features. Use by 511.org of cookies and other technologies allow MTC/511 to improve our website and your web experience. We may also analyze information that does not contain Personal Information for trends and statistics. We do not make any association between this information and the 511.org website visitor's identity.
511.org Links to Other Websites
The 511.org website contains links to other sites. When you link to another site, you are no longer on our site and this Privacy Notice will not apply. When you link to another site, you are subject to the privacy notices or policies of that new site. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of these other sites. You should check the privacy statement of the website sponsor when linking to other sites. Links to external sites do not constitute endorsements by MTC/511.
511.org Security
Personal Information collected online is stored on the 511.org web server and is not publicly accessible, with the exception of the Personal Information that is shared to participate in the 511 Rideshare RideMatch Service and the Bike Buddy RideMatch Service. Personal Information is accessible by MTC/511 employees, our authorized contractors on a need-to-know basis, and our public or rideshare partners, including Bay Area transit operators and Caltrans. Please note, however, that phone or e-mail inquiries about other public agencies or another ridematch program will be forwarded directly to those agencies, where any Personal Information will be handled in compliance with that agency’s privacy policy. All MTC/511 employees and contractors with access to this information are required to adhere to the terms of this Privacy Notice.
Legal Disclaimers
Notwithstanding the practices described above, MTC/511 may disclose Personal Information when required by law or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary in order to conform to legal requirements or to prevent a crime.
MTC/511 are committed to respecting your privacy and recognizes your need for appropriate protection and management of any personally identifiable information ("Personal Information") you share with us. Further, we know you care how information about you is used and shared, and we appreciate your trust that we will do so carefully and sensibly. MTC/511 have established this Online Privacy Notice so that you can understand the care with which we will treat your Personal Information.
Your Consent
By using the 511.org website, users agree that they will not use the site for any unlawful activity, or use it in any way that would violate these standards. Moreover, users of this website consent to the terms of this Privacy Notice regarding management of Personal Information for the purposes explained here.
The effective date of this Privacy Notice is November 9, 2007. By using the 511.org website on or after this date, you consent to the terms of this Privacy Notice and to MTC/511’s collection, use, or dissemination of Personal Information as described in this Privacy Notice.
Changes
MTC/511 reserve the right to change, modify, add or remove provisions of this Privacy Notice. Any changes will be posted here, and we encourage you to check back from time to time.
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