City of Torrance Website Policy Disclosure

AGREEMENT BETWEEN USER AND THE CITY OF TORRANCE

This web site is owned and operated by the City of Torrance ("CITY"), offered to the User conditioned on acceptance by the User without modification of the terms, conditions and notices contained herein.  Use of content, services, and/or products presented in any and all areas of this site constitutes the User's agreement to abide by the following terms and conditions and those posted in specific areas of the site. 

Disclaimer/Limitation of Liability

Although every effort is made to maintain an accurate web site, the CITY does not guarantee absolute accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information in the site's content nor does it endorse any content, viewpoint, products or services linked from this site.  The CITY disclaims any liability for errors and omissions in the site's content, as well as the contents of web sites linked to the CITY's web site.  All materials and services in this site and links to third-party sites are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind.  The content published on this web site may include inaccuracies or typographical errors.  Neither the CITY nor any officer, employee or agent of the CITY makes any representations and to the fullest extent allowed by law, disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to warranties of merchantability, accuracy and fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, and title regarding the suitability of the information; the accuracy, reliability, completeness or timeliness of the content, services, products, text, graphics, links, or other items contained within this site, or the results obtained from accessing and using this site and/or the content contained herein.  

Use of this site is at User's own risk.  The CITY disclaims any liability for lost data, malfunctions, or security issues arising from vendors or services along the internet connection or transmission route to the CITY's web site.  Further, the CITY disclaims any liability due to unauthorized or illegal actions by third parties including, but not limited to hacking, whether at the CITY's web site, CITY's network, CITY's server, CITY's internet service provider (ISP) vendor or at internet routing links, the User's internet service provider (ISP), the User's network or dialup line, or the User's computer.  The CITY does not warrant that the functions contained in the materials on the CITY's web site or server that makes it available will be uninterrupted or error-free, that defects will be corrected, or that this site is free of viruses, spyware, or other harmful components.  The User assumes the entire cost of all necessary maintenance, repair or correction.  In no event will the CITY be liable for any damages of any nature based upon any theory of liability, including but not limited to contract, negligence or other torts (including intentional torts), including but not limited to damages for loss of use of property, loss of profits, lost, compromised, or impaired claims, lost savings, lost fees, or any other damages whatsoever, arising out of or relating in any way to the use of this website.  The site may also contain advice, opinions and statements of various information providers or content providers.  As the CITY does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other information provided by any information provider or content provider, reliance upon such information will also be at User's own risk.

PRIVACY NOTICE

On certain occasions, the public has opportunities to share personal information online with the CITY in order to facilitate better correspondence and online services.  The CITY will not disclose this information to any third party, unless required to do so under federal or state law, including, but not limited to the California Public Records Act.  As such, some of this information, perhaps even including the User's e-mail address, may not be considered private and may be subject to disclosure under public records laws.  The information collected is subject to the same controls and uses as that collected by the CITY offices visited in person or submitted on paper.  The information voluntarily submitted to the CITY will be used only for correspondence or official CITY business.  The User does not have to provide personal information to visit the CITY web site or download information from the site.  The CITY will take all reasonable precautions to safeguard the confidentiality of personal information, but will nevertheless not be held liable for any injury caused by the disclosure of that information, whether caused by security breach, accident, inadvertence, or any other act resulting in disclosure.       

INFORMATION COLLECTED

Personal Information

• Personal information will only be collected to provide the User with the most personalized and effective service possible.  The CITY will maintain the confidentiality of information it receives online to the same extent it is legally able to do so with respect to information obtained through other means by restricting access to such information to those employees that will respond to the request. 
• If the User sends the CITY an e-mail message with a question or comment that contains personal information or fills out a form that transmits this information, the CITY will use the information to respond to the request and may redirect the User's message to another governmental agency or person in a better position to answer the question. 
• Communications made through e-mail and messaging systems will in no way be deemed to constitute legal notice to the CITY or any of its agencies, officers, employees, agents or representatives, with respect to any existing or potential claim or cause of action against the CITY or any of its agencies, officers, employees, agents or representatives, where notice to the CITY is required by any federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. 
• By using e-mail addresses provided at registration for services or otherwise, User is giving the CITY permission to periodically send out e-mail newsletters and promotional email to User about web site updates and product and service information offered by the CITY.  User may indicate that they do not wish to receive e-mail information from the CITY. Upon such request, the CITY will remove User (and their information) from the CITY database or permit them to elect not to receive any further e-mail newsletters or contact. 

Non-identifying Information

Non-identifying information that is automatically transmitted by the User's web browser (e.g. the type of browser used to access web site; date, time and duration of visit) will be used to help improve the CITY's web site.  This information may be collected and stored for statistical purposes such as counting the number of visitors to different sections of the CITY's web site to help the CITY make the site more useful.  

Use of Cookies

The CITY uses cookies for its internally developed and third-party software to store access information, set access parameters, or assist in site navigation and usage.  The CITY does not use "persistent" cookies to collect permanent information.  The CITY uses "non-persistent" cookies in applications that keep track of a User and make it possible for you to complete a form or use a function, but this cookie disappears when you close your browser.  You can refuse cookies by turning them off in your browser.  However, they may be required to use some of the applications of the CITY's web site.

Security 

The CITY is committed to data security and data quality of personally identifiable information that is either available from or collected by our web site and has taken reasonable precautions to protect such information from loss, misuse, or alteration.  The CITY stores such information on secure databases protected by industry standard firewalls and password protection systems.  Only authorized individuals have access to the information provided by a User.  
When a User submits credit card information or any other particularly sensitive information for any CITY services, that information will be protected by a VeriSign certificate and secure service software ("SSL"), which encrypts all this information in order to protect its confidentiality.  Unless a particular web page on the CITY's web site indicates that encryption technology is being used, the User should not assume that information uploaded through that web page to the CITY's web server will be treated as confidential.  

Nevertheless, it is crucial that, as a User, you protect yourself against unauthorized access to your password and to your computer and that you always sign off when using a shared computer.  Further, you should be aware that no system is impenetrable.  Thus, it is your responsibility to diligently monitor your credit card statements, credit reports, bank statements and similar personal information so as to discover and address as quickly as possible any misuse of your personal information.  

Unauthorized attempts to access personal information on the web site, upload information to the web site, or change information on the CITY's web site are strictly prohibited and will be punishable as provided by law.  

Links to Third-Party Web Sites

This web site may contain links and pointers to Internet sites maintained by third parties.  The CITY does not operate or control in any respect any information, products or services on such third-party sites.  Third-party links are included solely for the convenience of User and do not constitute any endorsement by the CITY.  The User assumes sole responsibility for use of third-party links and pointers.  This privacy policy applies only to the CITY web site and therefore, the User is subject to the privacy policy of the third-party site.  When linking to a third-party site, User is encouraged to examine the privacy statement of that site.  

Minor's Privacy Policy

Any information that could be collected from or for a minor 13 years of age or younger by any CITY web site is subject to the guidelines of the CITY's general privacy policy, as described in this Agreement.  Consequently, visitors should be aware that personal information requested from or volunteered by minors online or by e-mail will be treated in the same manner as information given by an adult.  This information may become a public record, and as such may be subject to public access.  Parents should guide their children when children are asked to provide personal information online.  

Copyright and Trademark Notices

By accessing the CITY's web site, the User acknowledges that content, including and without limitation, text, software, music, sound, photographs, video, graphics or other material contained in this web site, may be protected by copyrights, trademarks, service marks, patents or other copyright or trademark laws.  The CITY permits the User to make a copy of this content for personal, non-commercial use only, provided that you keep all copyright and other proprietary notices intact. The right to use it is not transferable to any other person or entity.  You may not modify, copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, transmit, display, perform, publish, license, create derivative works from, transfer, sell or distribute in any way information or content available through the web site, including code and software, with the exception of public documents such as agendas or meeting minutes.  In addition, the information may not be taken out of context or presented in an unfair, misleading or discriminatory manner.  

GIS Map Disclaimer

GIS maps created by the CITY's Geographic Information System are designed for the convenience of the CITY and related public agencies.  The CITY does not warrant the accuracy of these maps, and no decision involving a risk of economic loss or physical injury should be made in reliance thereon. 

Translation Disclaimer

The City of Torrance Google translation feature assists web visitors in understanding information on this website in a variety of foreign languages.  Please be aware that Google Translate, a free third party service which the City does not control, provides automated computer translations that may not give you an accurate translation.
The City cannot guarantee the accuracy of translations through Google Translate so translations should not be considered exact and only used as a rough guide.  Anyone relying on information obtained from Google Translate does so at his or her own risk. The City disclaims and will not accept any liability for damages or losses of any kind caused by the use of the Google Translate feature.  For additional information on Google Translate visit the Google site http://translate.google.com/about/intl/en_ALL/.

GENERAL

The CITY may periodically make changes to its web site and this may occur at any time without notice to the User.  The CITY reserves the right at any time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, any services provided on this web site without notice to User.  In addition, the CITY will have the right, at its discretion, to change, modify, add or remove terms of this Agreement at any time without notice to User.  Any such changes will be effective immediately.  User will review this Agreement periodically since subsequent use of this site will constitute acceptance of any changes.  

This Agreement will be deemed to include all other notices, policies, disclaimers, and other terms contained in the site.  However, in the event of a conflict between such other terms and the terms of this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement will control. 

This Agreement has been made in and will be construed and enforced in accordance with California Law.  Any action to enforce this Agreement will be brought in federal or state courts located in Los Angeles County, California.  If any provision is deemed to be unlawful or unenforceable, it will not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions.