Privacy Notice

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (LACMTA)

Last Updated: June 30, 20221

LACMTA takes the privacy of its users and patrons seriously. This Privacy Notice describes the collection, use and security of the information obtained from users and patrons of the TAP system, including through our fare system, website (taptogo.net), mobile application (TAP Mobile App), and other services. Defined terms not defined herein are defined in the TAP Terms of Service ("TAP Cardholder Agreement").

Data Collection

Depending on the Services you utilize, LACMTA may collect your name, address, gender, date of birth, telephone number, email address, wireless/cellular number, debit or credit card number and expiration date2, or other personally identifiable information. LACMTA obtains this personal information from applications, forms, and other information you submit by telephone, mail, facsimile transmissions, or by electronic submission.

Cookies

Some applications on our websites may use cookies. Cookies are small data files that are transferred to and stored on your computer if your browser is configured to allow them. The only personal information that a cookie can contain is information you supply yourself. LACMTA may utilize cookies or retargeting pixels for the purpose of facilitating your use of our sites and for tracking user traffic patterns in order to help us make improvements to the site. You can set your browser to refuse cookies or retargeting pixels. However, cookies may be required to use or enable all features of some of the web applications on LACMTA site.

Do Not Track Requests

LACMTA does not track you across its websites.

TAP Account Holder Information

The TAP Customer Service Center may collect a TAP Cardholder’s personal information in order to process Personalized Cards and to Balance Protect TAP Cards. Examples of personal information include a TAP Cardholder’s name, address, gender, date of birth, telephone number, email address, debit or credit card number and expiration date, or other information that personally identifies a TAP Cardholder. The TAP Customer Service Center obtains this personal information from applications and other forms submitted by TAP cardholders to the TAP Customer Service Center by telephone, mail, facsimile transmission or by electronic submission to the TAP website.

How Personal Information is Used

Personal information will only be used for the purpose of operating and managing the TAP system. Personal information will not be disclosed to third parties, except (i) as required by law; (ii) as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction; (iii) where the express written consent of the individual has been obtained; (iv) where TAP Card utilization activity must be verified to determine the TAP Cardholder’s eligibility for continued participation in a special fare program (e.g., employer-sponsored programs); (v) where shared with an authorized Service Provider for the purpose of creating an integrated transit fare payment system and for the purpose of interoperability with such Service Provider; or (vi) with authorized LACMTA vendors and contractors who have written confidentiality obligations to protect, maintain, and not otherwise reuse your personal information consistent with the limitations of Streets & Highway Code Section 31490.

Access to Your Information

You retain the right to review and edit all of your personal information pertaining to your TAP Account, whether stored electronically or on paper. Any inquiry or request to obtain your personal information shall be directed to the TAP Customer Service Center. LACMTA may adopt procedures for review of such information, including but not limited to, charging a fee for processing requests for personal information from the TAP Customer Service Center.

Request to Delete Your Information

You may submit a request to LACMTA to delete your personally identifiable information (“PII”). To delete your PII, your TAP account must be closed. Therefore, any request for the deletion of your account data will be treated as a request to close your TAP account. Unless LACMTA is required to maintain your PII pursuant to applicable law, the following will occur within forty five (45) calendar days of receiving your request:

  • Your TAP account will be closed. You will not have login access to perform TAP card management activities using taptogo.net, the TAP LA mobile app, or with the assistance of TAP Customer Service. Once your TAP account is closed, it cannot be reinstated.
  • Your participation in any transit or subsidy programs in which a TAP account is required and your PII is necessary to determine program eligibility will be terminated. These include but are not limited to Reduced Fare, LIFE, GoPass, and Metro Bike Share. Because your program eligibility cannot be verified without your PII, you will no longer be eligible for program benefits including, but not limited to, purchasing fares at reduced prices, receiving a low-income subsidy or receiving free fares.
  • Your Reduced Fare TAP card will be canceled. We recommend you use any fare on your card before submitting a request to delete your PII. Alternatively, you may provide a valid TAP card number and the fare on your canceled Reduced Fare card will be transferred to such card, pursuant to the following rules:
    • No refunds will be issued for any fare on your canceled card;
    • Your Stored Value amount will be transferred;
    • Unused or partially used passes will be converted to a Stored Value amount (based on the prorated value of the price paid for the pass) and transferred;
  • Your non-Reduced Fare plastic TAP card will become disassociated from your closed TAP account. Your card will not be canceled however, and you may continue to use it and any fare on the card anonymously. Please note that any passes issued pursuant to a transit or subsidy program eligibility will be removed from the card. You may load additional fare at any TAP vending machine or at a TAP vendor.
  • Your full fare, virtual TAP card will become disassociated from your closed TAP account. For iOS users, you may continue to use your virtual TAP card and any fare on the card anonymously, and you may add additional fare using Apple Wallet. For Android users, your card will be canceled. You may provide a valid TAP card number and the fare on your canceled virtual card will be transferred to such card pursuant to the following rules:
    • No refunds will be issued for any fare on your canceled card;
    • Your Stored Value amount will be transferred;
    • Partially used passes will be converted to a Stored Value amount (based on the prorated value of the price paid for the pass) and transferred;
    • Unused passes will be transferred;

Changes to this Privacy Notice

LACMTA reserves the right to modify this Privacy Notice at any time and without further notice. If LACMTA makes changes to this Privacy Notice, LACMTA will post the revised Privacy Notice on the TAP website, www.taptogo.net, including the date of any amendments. Your continued use of any of the Services after any changes have been posted constitutes your acceptance of those changes.

1  This Privacy Notice became effective on April 1, 2008. It was amended on June 30, 2016, November 5, 2019, September 3, 2020 and June 30, 2022.

2  This information may be collected for payments you authorized and is used as provided under the Terms of Service. LACMTA does not store your debit or credit number and expiration date. LACMTA stores payment related information only stored in tokenized format.