PRIVACY POLICY
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is committed to protecting the
privacy of our customers. The following information explains our current Internet privacy practices,
but shall not be construed as a contractual promise. We reserve the right to amend our privacy
policy at any time without notice.
Virginia Laws
We protect our records in accordance with our obligations as defined by applicable
Virginia statutes, including, but not limited to, the Government Data Collection and Dissemination
Practices Act, in Title 2.2 of the Code of Virginia, the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, and by
other applicable U.S. Federal Laws.
Essential Technical Information We Collect
When you access our Web site, we automatically collect the following essential technical
information:
• the Internet domain and Internet address of the computer you are
using,
• the Web page you are requesting
• the type and version of
browser and operating system installed on your PC, and
• the date and time of
access
Though not essential, we also collect the Internet address of the Web site from which you
linked to our Web site. No other information is collected through our Web site unless you
deliberately decide to send it to us, for example, by conducting an online transaction,
registering for personalized Web pages or sending us an email. We use all of the above
information to track the number of customers who visit our site and identify our most popular
pages so that we can continue to improve site content and functionality and diagnose problems
with our servers.
Optional Information We Collect
For each online service we ask only for the information we need to process your
request. The questions within each service/transaction would be the same that you are asked over the
telephone or during an in-person visit.
Communicating With Us
While visiting our site, you may want to send VDOT an email or request that we call
you. We will request your name, your customer number, the subject of your question or comment, your
email address and/or telephone number. This information is used solely to fulfill your online
request. VDOT does not share this customer information with other individuals, organizations or with
advertisers.
How the Information Collected is Used
VDOT does not share, sell or trade email addresses, demographic information
collected on surveys or any other information about our online customers. If necessary, VDOT may
disclose user information if we have reason to believe that disclosing this information is necessary
to identify, contact or bring legal action against an individual who attempts, even unintentionally,
to gain unauthorized access to VDOT information or to disrupt our Web site.
Cookies
When you visit a Web site and request information, the site's server sends the
request to you and then breaks the connection. The connection does not resume again until you
perform another action. To ensure that we maintain a connection between our server and your
computer, we use a standard Web technology called "cookies." A cookie is a very small amount of data
that is sent from our server to your computer's hard drive. In addition, cookies allow us to save
the information that you input while progressing through an online transaction. If your browser is
not configured to "accept" cookies, you will still be able to access the static information on our
Web site, but you will not be able to use certain features, such as our online transactions.
Links to Other Web Sites
This Web site and its document collection might include hyperlinks to sites on the
World Wide Web or Internet that are neither controlled nor sponsored by the Virginia Department of
Transportation (VDOT) or the Commonwealth of Virginia. They are included here solely for their value
as reference, research or educational tools or because they relate to the mission of this agency and
the Commonwealth of Virginia. Inclusion of any hyperlink should not be interpreted as an endorsement
by VDOT or the Commonwealth of Virginia of either the site's sponsor or any commercial product. If
you have questions or concerns about a site we link to, please read the privacy and security
information for that site.
Plug Ins
Some files on the site require free external "plug ins" to be viewed. These software programs
include:
• Adobe Reader
• Microsoft Word Viewer
• Microsoft Excel Viewer
•
Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer
• Windows Media Player
• Apple QuickTime
If you have difficulty opening files from this site, download and install the latest version of
the software.
Security
The VDOT site has security measures in place to protect against the loss, misuse
and alteration of information under our control. When you browse public areas of the VDOT Web site,
none of your personal information is captured or stored by VDOT. When you conduct an online
transaction with VDOT, we offer the use of a secure server.
Firewalls
Our firewalls are a complex system of hardware and software that allow us to
strictly regulate information and data that can both enter and exit our servers. This ensures that
only authorized access occurs and that VDOT information remains confidential. No customer
information is stored on our Internet servers. Records are stored in separate databases not directly
connected to the Internet.
Secure Sockets Layer
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is an industry standard technology that creates a secure
environment for the information transferred between your browser and VDOT. SSL encrypts all
information that you input before it is sent to VDOT. Secure data such as your customer number, PIN,
date of birth, plate number, title number, and credit card information are scrambled in the
encryption/cryptography process.
Location Services
The Virginia 511 website and mobile application uses your location to identifys
start and end points while determining route information. The Virginia 511 mobile application (VDOT
511) also uses your location to center the map over your current location and to provide the
look-ahead feature where the application will verbally announce events, issues and construction
ahead of you on your current route. You maintain control of location services by controlling your
browser and mobile settings. At no time does the Virginia 511 website collect or store active route
information.
Customer Comments
If you have questions about this privacy policy, the practices of this site, or
your interaction with this Web site, please
contact us.