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Thank you for reviewing the County of Ventura Privacy Policy. This policy
addresses collection, use and security of and access to information that may be
obtained online. This policy covers the following topics:
Information Collected and How it is Used
If you do nothing during your visit to the County of Ventura web site but browse
or download information, we automatically collect and store the following
information about your visit:
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The Internet Protocol Address and domain name used but not the e-mail address.
The Internet Protocol address is a numerical identifier assigned either to your
Internet service provider or directly to your computer. We use the Internet
Protocol Address to direct Internet traffic;
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The type of browser and operating system you used;
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The date and time you visited this site;
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The web pages or services you accessed at this site; and
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The web site you visited prior to coming to this web site.
The information we automatically collect or store is used to improve the content
of our web services and to help us understand how people are using our
services. The Information Systems Department analyzes our web site logs to
continually improve the value of the materials available on our site and your
browsing experience. Our web site logs are not personally identifiable, and we
make no attempt to link them with the individuals that browse Ventura County's
web site.
If during your visit to the web site you participate in a survey or send an
e-mail, the following additional information will be collected:
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The e-mail address and contents of the e-mail; and
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Information volunteered in response to a survey.
The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include
audio, video, and graphic information formats you send us.
We use your e-mail to respond appropriately. This may be to respond to you, to
address issues you identify, to further improve our web site, or to forward the
e-mail to another agency for appropriate action. Survey information is used for
the purpose designated.
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Personal Information and Choice
"Personal information" is information about a natural person that is readily
identifiable to that specific individual. Personal information includes such
things as an individual's name, address, and phone number. A domain name or
Internet Protocol address is not considered personal information.
We collect no personal information about you unless you voluntarily participate
in an activity that asks for information (i.e. sending an e-mail or
participating in a survey). If you choose not to participate in these
activities, your choice will in no way effect your ability to use any other
feature of Ventura County's web site.
If personal information is requested on the web site or volunteered by the user,
state laws and the federal Privacy Act of 1974 may protect it. However, this
information is a public record once you provide it, and may be subject to
public inspection and copying if not exempted from disclosure by federal or
state law.
Users are cautioned that the collection of personal information requested from
or volunteered by children on-line or by e-mail will be treated the same as
information given by an adult, and may be subject to public access.
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Public Disclosure
Within the County of Ventura, laws exist to ensure that government is open and
that the public has a right to access appropriate records and information
possessed by government. At the same time, there are exceptions to the public's
right to access public records that serve various needs including the privacy
of individuals. Both state and federal laws provide exemptions.
All information collected at this site may become public records that are be
subject to inspection and copying by the public, unless an exemption in law
exists.
In the event of a conflict between this Privacy Policy and the Public Records
Act or other law governing the disclosure of records, the Public Records Act or
other applicable law will control.
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Access and Correction of Personal Information
You can review any personal information we collect about you. You may recommend
changes to your personal information you believe in error by submitting a
written request that credibly shows the error. If you believe that your
personal information is being used for a purpose other than what was intended
when submitted, you may contact us. In all cases, we will take reasonable steps
to verify your identity before granting access or making corrections. See
Contact Information section.
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Cookies
To better serve our users we may use "cookies" to customize your browsing
experience with the County of Ventura. Cookies are simple text files stored on
your computer by your web browser. They provide a method of distinguishing
among visitors to Ventura County's web site.
Cookies created on your computer by using this web site do not contain
personally identifying information and do not compromise your privacy or
security. We use the cookie feature only to store a randomly generated
identifying tag on your computer. You can refuse the cookie or delete the
cookie file from your computer by using any of the widely available methods.
Some functionality may be dependent on the presence of a cookie, therefore
disabling, refusing, or deleting cookies could alter your ability to access or
use a function.
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Security
The Information Services Department has taken several steps to safeguard the
integrity of its telecommunications and computing infrastructure, including but
not limited to authentication, monitoring, auditing, and encryption. Security
measures have been integrated into the design, implementation and day-to-day
practices of the entire ISD operating environment as part of its continuing
commitment to risk management.
This information should not be construed in any way as giving business, legal,
or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of information
provided via ISD supported web sites.
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Disclaimer
Ventura County's web site has links to other web sites. These include links to
web sites operated by other government agencies, nonprofit organizations and
private businesses. When you link to another site, you are no longer on Ventura
County's web site and this Privacy Policy will not apply. When you link to
another web site, you are subject to the privacy policy of that new site.
Neither the County of Ventura, nor any agency, officer, or employee of the
County of Ventura warrants the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any
information published, nor endorses any content, viewpoints, products, or
services linked from this system, and shall not be held liable for any losses
caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such
information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any
person or entity that relies on any information obtained from web sites
operated outside of the County does so at his or her own risk.
The County of Ventura reserves the right to include or exclude hyperlinks at any
time and without notice.
The County of Ventura reserves the right to make changes and improvements at any
time and without notice. Further, the County of Ventura assumes no liability
for damages incurred directly or indirectly as a result of errors, omissions,
or discrepancies.
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Ventura County Contact Information
To access your personally identifiable information we collect, if any, or
request correction of factual errors in your personally identifiable
information, contact:
Web Site Coordinator
Information Systems Department
County of Ventura Government Center
800 S. Victoria Avenue
Ventura, California 93009
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Applicable Legislation
According to Government Code § 11015.5, upon which this Privacy Policy is
patterned, "electronically collected personal information" means any
information that is maintained by an agency or department that identifies or
describes an individual user, including, but not limited to, his or her name,
social security number, physical description, home address, home telephone
number, education, financial matters, medical or employment history, password,
electronic mail address, and information that reveals any network location or
identity, but excludes any information manually submitted to a County agency by
a user, whether electronically or in written form, and information on or
relating to individuals who are users, serving in a business capacity,
including, but not limited to, business owners, officers, or principals of that
business.
"Electronically collected personal information" that we automatically collect
includes your domain name or Internet Protocol address, and statistical
information about which web pages you visit. If you voluntarily participate in
an activity that asks for specific information (i.e., completing a request for
assistance, personalizing the content of the web site, sending an e-mail, or
participating in a survey) more detailed data will be collected. If you choose
not to participate in these activities, your choice will in no way affect your
ability to use any other feature of the web site.
If any type of personal information is requested on the web site or volunteered
by the user, State law and including the Information Practices Act of 1977,
Government Code Section 11015.5., and the federal Privacy Act of 1974 may
protect it. However, this information may be a public record once you provide
it, and may be subject to public inspection and copying if not otherwise
exempted by federal or State law.
Government Code § 11015.5.(a)(6) prohibits the distribution or sale of any
electronically collected personal information, as defined above, about users to
any third party without the permission of the user. The County does not sell
any "electronically collected personal information." Any distribution of
"electronically collected personal information" will be solely for the purposes
for which it was provided to us.
If during your visit to the County's web site you participate in a survey or
send an e-mail, the following additional information will be collected:
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The e-mail address and contents of the e-mail; and
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Information volunteered in response to the survey.
The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include
audio, video, and graphic information formats you send us. The information is
retained in accordance with Government Code § 11015.5.
All information collected at this site becomes public record that may be subject
to inspection and copying by the public, unless an exemption in law exists. In
the event of a conflict between this Use Privacy Policy and the Public Records
Act, the Information Practices Act, or other law governing the disclosure of
records, the Public Records Act, the Information Practices Act, or other
applicable law will control.
Under Government Code § 11015.5, if you choose, you may have any personal
information collected about you discarded without reuse or distribution,
provided we are contacted in a timely fashion.
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