Privacy Policy
Visit Santa Cruz County (VSCC) is committed to protecting the privacy of visitors to our website, subscribers to our newsletters, and those providing contact information. In addition, VSCC is opposed to unauthorized commercial e-mail delivery, otherwise known as spam. Please read the following Privacy Policy to understand how your personal information is treated. VSCC may offer new information or services that may affect this policy. By using our website, you consent to the policies described in this privacy statement. The provisions of this policy are subject to change. VSCC will post changes to this privacy policy on www.visitsantacruz.org.
This privacy policy may apply to information collected when using VSCC’s website, or participate in sponsored programs, promotions, sweepstakes, games, raffles or contests, and social media platforms. We collect information that you submit to us and via “cookies” and other technologies as described below.
INFORMATION COLLECTION
Specifically, VSCC, its partners and affiliates may collect “personally identifiable information” about you, which means any information that can be used to identify a specific individual, such as name, postal address, telephone, email, zip code, gender and income level. “Personally identifiable information” does not include publicly available information that is lawfully made available to the general public from federal, state, or local government records. The information collected is used for statistical reporting; to determine the effectiveness of the website’s content, programs and advertisements; to “personalize” your experience on VSCC’s websites, including www.visitsantacruz.org, by providing targeted advertising and/or promotional campaigns; and to contact you or send you promotional materials. We do not collect any personally identifiable information that you do not provide.
VSCC also collects “non-personally identifiable information,” which does not reveal your identity, but may be used by us and shared with third parties as described in this Privacy Policy.
By submitting information to us, you consent to its collection and use by us in accordance with this Privacy Policy. Users have the option of discontinuing participation in our mailing lists or programs, or editing their personally identifiable information by contacting us. (See “Opt-in/Opt-out,” below.)
COOKIES AND OTHER TECHNOLOGIES
To help us serve you better, we collect non-personally identifiable information, including traffic data and information that identifies your computer or browser. Cookies are pieces of information placed in the settings of your web browser by a website server to identify your computer when you return to a website. Whenever a site welcomes you and tailors data to your specifications, it is reading a cookie left in your browser and identifying information that you may have registered during previous visits, such as your viewing preferences.
We may use cookies and other technologies to keep track of your status as a participant in our promotions, to tailor information to your preferences, or for other similar purposes. Cookies and other technologies also help us estimate and report the size of our viewing community and traffic. We may also use IP addresses to analyze trends, help us administer the website, track the movement of visitors, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. You can set your browser not to accept cookies or to disable other tracking technologies, but if you do, you may not be able to take advantage of certain features enjoyed by other visitors to our website.
VSCC’s website currently does not respond to “do not track” signals or other mechanisms that provide consumers a choice regarding the collection of personally identifiable information about an individual consumer’s online activities over time and across third party online services.
CONTEST/SWEEPSTAKES INFORMATION
Participation in contests, sweepstakes, raffles, games or similar promotions sponsored by VSCC or by third parties also requires the disclosure of personally identifiable information. We may share that information with third-party sponsors of the contests, sweepstakes, raffles, games or similar promotions. This information is subject to usage outlined in “Information Collection,” above. In addition, you should carefully review the rules of each contest, sweepstakes, raffle, game or similar promotion in which you participate. This privacy policy applies to the treatment and use of your personally identifiable information.
REQUESTS FOR VISITOR INFORMATION
Personally identifiable information provided with a consumer’s online request for information (such as a Traveler’s Guide or a Wildlife Watching Guide, for example) is subject to usage as described in “Information Collection,” above.
CONSENT
By subscribing to monthly, quarterly, or bi-annual VSCC e-newsletters, or by entering VSCC-sponsored contests, I agree to receiving information from VSCC or its partners. VSCC may collect, use and disclose your personal data which you furnish for providing marketing material that you have agreed to receive.
DISCLOSURE FOR LEGAL PURPOSES
We may be required to share your personally identifiable information and nonpersonally identifiable information pursuant to judicial or governmental subpoenas, warrants or orders. If we are legally required to do so, or, in good faith believe that we are legally required to do so, we will obey the law. In addition, we reserve the right to use, disclose and share your personal and non-personal information in order to investigate, prevent or take action regarding illegal activities, suspected fraud, situations involving potential threats to the physical safety of any person or as otherwise required by law.
DISCLAIMER CONCERNING THIRD PARTIES
We may provide certain personally identifiable information to our partners. Furthermore, we may retain other companies and individuals to perform functions on our behalf. Examples include consumer e-mail service providers, and web data tracking specialists. Such third parties may be provided with access to personally identifiable information needed to perform their functions, but may not use such information for any other purpose.
VSCC’s website contains links to other websites. VSCC has no control over the content exhibited on these sites, or the administration of them. Use of such sites is subject to each site’s unique privacy policy.
USE OF SITE BY PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18
Our online services are not directed toward persons under the age of 18, and we request that persons under the age of 18 not provide personally identifiable information to us.
OPT-IN/OPT-OUT
You may choose to remove yourself from our mailing list by following the instructions on our promotional communications, or by sending us a request. (See “Contact Us” section, below.
CONTACT US
We welcome your feedback. If you have questions, complaints, or concerns, or if you would like to remove yourself from our mailing lists, change your personally identifiable information, or have your personally identifiable information removed from our systems, please contact us by email, phone or mail:
Email: dzape@santacruz.org
Phone: 831.425.1234
Mail: VSCC – Privacy Issues, 303 Water Street, Ste. 100, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Please note that any requests to remove your personally identifiable information from our mailing list, or to change your contact information, may take a certain amount of time to process.
VSCC is working toward GDPR compliance and may continue to update its privacy policy.
VISIT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO UPDATE THIS PRIVACY POLICY AT ITS DISCRETION. ANY CHANGES WILL BE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE. OUR RIGHT TO USE YOUR PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION AND NON-PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION WILL BE BASED ON APPLICABLE LAW AND THE PRIVACY POLICY IN EFFECT AT THE TIME THE INFORMATION IS COLLECTED.