This policy describes MVTA’s privacy practices regarding information collected from visitors to the site and users of MVTA’s text message (SMS) notification services. It contains information about what information is collected and how that information may be used. This policy may be changed by MVTA at any time and without notice. Nothing contained in this policy statement shall be construed as specific legal advice.
If you have questions or comments about the agency’s privacy policy, please send e-mail to mvta@mvta.com.
The following is the privacy and security policy for this site:
Information Collected and Stored Automatically
In the course of operating a web site, certain information may be collected automatically in logs or by cookies. A cookie is an electronic file that contains unique information a web site can use to track such things as passwords, lists of pages you’ve visited, and the date when you last looked at a specific page. It can be used to identify your session at a particular web site. A cookie is often used to identify the items selected for a specific shopping cart application or to verify that you have registered for use of particular portions of a web site. A cookie may also be used for site management functions. As a part of site management, information is collected for analysis and statistical purposes. This information is not reported or used in any manner that would reveal personally identifiable information. It will not be released to any outside parties unless legally required to do so in connection with law enforcement investigations or other legal proceedings, or pursuant to any other legal or statutory request. Please note that this web site uses cookies for all of the, part of the, or for similar reason to the ones listed above.
The following information is collected as part of this site’s management for analysis and statistical purposes:
User Client hostname – The hostname (or IP address if Domain Name Server is disabled) of the user/client requesting access.
HTTP header, “user-agent” – The user-agent information includes the type of browser, its version, and the operating system it’s using.
HTTP header, “referrer” – The referrer specifies the page from which the client accessed the current page.
System date – The date and time of the user/client request.
Full request – The exact request made by the user/client.
Status – The status code the server returned to the user/client.
Content length – The content length, in bytes, of the document sent to the user/client.
Method – The request method used.
Universal Resource Identifier (URI) – The location of a resource on the server.
Query string of the URI – Anything after the question mark in a URI.
Protocol – The transport protocol and version used.
Information Collected from E-mails and Web Forms
If you send us an electronic mail message with a question or comment that contains personally identifying information, or fill out a form that e-mails MVTA this information, the personally identifiable information will only be used to respond to your request and analyze trends. We may redirect your message to another government agency that is in a better position to answer your question. Unless required by law, court order, or as legally required to do so in connection with law enforcement investigations or other legal proceedings, we will not sell or release your e-mail address unless you affirmatively consent to the sale or release of the information
Information Collected Through SMS (Text Message) Route Impact Notifications
MVTA offers an optional text message (SMS) notification service that alerts subscribers to detours, closures, and other route impacts affecting MVTA service (the “SMS Service”). Use of the SMS Service is voluntary and requires you to affirmatively opt in by submitting your mobile telephone number through the MVTA website or another MVTA-approved enrollment method.
When you opt in to the SMS Service, MVTA collects and stores the following information:
Mobile telephone number – The number you provide at the time of enrollment.
Route and alert preferences – The specific routes, stops, or alert categories you select to receive notifications about, if applicable.
Opt-in and opt-out records – The date, time, and method of your consent to receive messages, and the date and time of any request to stop receiving messages.
Message delivery data – Records confirming that a message was sent to your device, provided to MVTA by its SMS service provider and wireless carriers.
Your mobile telephone number and related enrollment information are used solely to deliver route impact and service alert notifications you have requested and to administer the SMS Service (including responding to HELP and STOP requests). MVTA does not sell, rent, or share your mobile telephone number or SMS opt-in information with third parties or affiliates for their marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties for such purposes.
As with other information collected by MVTA, mobile telephone numbers and related enrollment records may be subject to disclosure under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, or as otherwise required by law, court order, or in connection with law enforcement investigations or other legal proceedings.
You may opt out of the SMS Service at any time by replying STOP to any message you receive, or by using another unsubscribe method identified at enrollment. For more information about the SMS Service, including message frequency and carrier disclosures, see MVTA’s SMS Route Impact Alerts Terms and Conditions of Use.
Security, Intrusion, Detection Language
For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, this government computer system employs software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage.
Except for authorized law enforcement investigations, court order, or other legal proceedings, no other attempts are made to identify individual users or their usage habits.
Please note that, with certain exceptions, the majority information collected or maintained by MVTA may be subject to the provisions of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act for disclosure to the public upon request.
Use/Release of Information
All information collected from the MVTA web site, including the summary server log information, e-mails sent to the web site, information collected from web-based forms, and mobile telephone numbers collected through the SMS Service, may be subject to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.
Service, and information collected through the RideMVTA mobile app, may be subject to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.