The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) recognizes and respects the importance of maintaining your privacy. Metro will only collect and use the information you provide that is relevant and necessary to accomplish the lawful purpose of Metro in accordance with this Metro ExpressLanes Privacy Policy, effective May 1, 2019.
Overview
Metro is committed to ensuring the privacy and security of your Personally Identifiable Information (“PII”). This Privacy Policy is intended to provide an understanding of how Metro handles PII collected in connection with its ExpressLanes operations, including information associated with FasTrak® users and License Plates. Among other things this policy explains the types of information collected from customers; third parties with whom Metro may share this information; and the process by which customers are notified about material changes to this policy.
Metro contracts with third parties to operate or provide operational support for the Metro ExpressLanes including the collection of PII, and management of the Metro ExpressLanes website and electronic communications. Metro ExpressLanes terms and conditions notify customers that by enrolling in an account or using the Metro ExpressLanes system, the customer is allowing Metro, its contractors, and other third parties, to process PII according to the provisions set forth in those documents and this Privacy Policy.
Collection of Personal Information
Personally Identifiable Information (PII) refers to information that can be used to identify or describe an individual user. Metro collects PII as part of a customer’s decision to use our services or if necessary to deliver the specific service, such as to respond to customer questions. The type of information that is collected depends on the services being provided by Metro, such as that required to establish and manage user accounts, and to collect payments and enforce toll violations. In general, this information may include an individual’s name, mailing address, email address, telephone number, vehicle registration information and payment card data. We automatically gather Site usage data for analysis and security purposes, and we may use service providers to assist us in doing so. This may include collection and use of your IP address or other browser or device identifiers. We also may ask customers for demographic information, including but not limited to, zip code and income level. Providing this demographic information is optional and not a requirement to establish an account.
Metro will not provide PII to a third party without your consent, except as described in this Privacy Policy. Such PII will never be provided to advertisers for their use; and Metro will maintain a secure environment for customer PII.
Use of Personal Information
Metro uses the PII in order to process account registration/activation, toll violations, manage accounts, collect payments, respond to questions, send account and program related e-mails and notifications, and provide information regarding significant changes to Metro policies. We also use personal information, such as travel pattern data, occupancy status, and photographs, to manage and enhance operations.
Metro may use personal information as well as other data for research purposes, and to improve the ExpressLanes website and our other services. In addition, we may use some of the information that we collect to present you with information concerning services or other offerings and information that may be of interest to you. We may retain and use communications, transaction details, your IP address, and other information to maintain audit trails for security purposes.
Our websites may use cookies and similar technology to study, enhance, and improve the use and capabilities of our websites. The technology may be used to collect or use information concerning your IP address or other browser or device identifiers. We also use cookies or similar technology to enable certain features of our websites, and to preserve your preferences and customize your experience when you visit and return to the websites. Most browsers provide controls whereby you can choose to block receipt of cookies, to delete cookies, or to be prompted before cookies are received. Please note that if you delete or choose not to receive cookies from any of our websites, the functionality of the website may be impaired.
Sharing of Personal Information
Metro may share PII with other public agencies to enable and comply with State required interoperability and to facilitate toll violation enforcement and collection. Metro shares PII with its third-party service providers who operate the Metro ExpressLanes system, such as managing accounts, collecting revenues, and providing remote walk in locations; and may disclose PII to other third-party service providers in the course of doing business (i.e., DMV, law enforcement, municipal courts or collection agencies). Metro provides only the PII they need to deliver the services and requires the service providers to maintain the confidentiality of the information and to use it only as necessary to carry out their duties under the Metro ExpressLanes program. Except as provided in the Privacy Policy, requested by a customer or required by law or court order, PII will not be disclosed.
Metro may provide aggregate information about our customers’ use of Metro ExpressLanes services and online website information to our funding partners, advertisers and agency partners. Such aggregate information will not contain any personally identifiable information.
Retaining of Personal Information
Metro is committed to maintaining the security of your personal information. The information collected through the Metro website is retained in accordance with applicable records retention and disposition requirements of Metro and California laws. We have instituted and require ongoing measures and systems to protect and to prevent unauthorized access. This, however, should not be deemed in any way as warranting or guaranteeing the security of the information provided on the Website. Metro is not responsible for any data obtained in an unauthorized manner including illegal activities such as hacking into Metro’s security system or by intercepting transmissions of PII over the internet. Customers should not disclose authentication information to any third party and should notify Metro of any unauthorized use of their passwords. Metro cannot secure PII that is released by customers or PII that customer’s request Metro to release.
Customer Rights and Choices
Customers and visitors have the right to restrict the sharing of personal information to Metro and/or its third-party service provider. However, such restrictions may prevent the use of Metro services. Unless the customer asks Metro not to, Metro and/or our third-party service provider may contact the customer via email or phone to inform them of such things as new ExpressLanes products or services, promotions or changes to this Privacy Policy. Customers may make the privacy choice at any time and will remain unchanged until the customer chooses otherwise. Customers may exercise that choice by contacting Metro at (877)812-0022 or metroexpresslanes.net.
Changes to Privacy Statement
Metro will update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our services and the law. If there are material changes to this statement or in how Metro will use personal information, we will notify the customer either by prominently posting a notice of such changes prior to implementing the change or by directly sending the customer a notification. Customers are encouraged to periodically review this statement to be informed of how Metro will protect customer information.