Privacy Policy & Data Safety.
Last Updated & Effective: October 3, 2026
Zero Data Selling
We never sell, rent, or monetize your personal or location data to third-party data brokers or advertisers.
Ephemeral Chat
In-app driver-to-driver handoff messages are private, temporary, and purged automatically after coordination.
Purpose-Driven GPS
Precise location is utilized strictly to verify 15ft hydrant safety buffers, discover holds, and calculate ETAs.
1. Introduction & Scope
Spotto NYC ("Spotto", "we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, store, and protect information when you use our mobile application (the "App"), website at spottonyc.com, and related curb intelligence services.
This policy complies with Apple App Store Privacy Details guidelines, Google Play Data Safety requirements, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA), and applicable United States privacy laws.
2. Information We Collect
We collect information in the following categories:
A. Account & Profile Information
When you register, we collect your name, email address, optional mobile phone number (used only to contact you about your account if needed), and authentication credentials. You may also register vehicle details (make, model, color, license plate state) which help drivers identify your vehicle during physical parking spot handoffs. If you enable full ticket details, we collect your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) solely to verify vehicle ownership and retrieve your ticket records.
B. Commercial & Business Information
Commercial partners provide business contact details (authorized representative name, business email, phone), company and facility information (facility name, operator, category, street address, cross streets, height clearance), rate and capacity details (hourly rates, daily maximums, stall counts, EV charging), and optional facility photos. Submitted listings are reviewed by our team before going live; we retain review records, including approval status and timestamps.
C. Payments & Billing Information
Driver Pro subscriptions are purchased through Apple App Store or Google Play in-app purchase; Apple and Google process those payments under their own privacy policies, and we receive only subscription status — never your card numbers. Commercial listing payments are processed by our payment processor; we store transaction records (amount, date, locations covered) but never full card numbers. Spotto Coin balances and transactions are recorded on our servers.
D. Precise Geolocation Information
With your permission, we collect precise GPS coordinates while using the App to:
- Display nearby available parking holds and municipal meter zones;
- Calculate your GPS-based proximity distance from NYC fire hydrants (15-Foot Hydrant Safety Radar);
- Calculate and display real-time arrival ETAs to spot holders ("On my way", "2 min out", "At the block");
- Provide background parking countdown alerts (NYC Ticket Shield™) before Alternate Side Parking (ASP) sweeping or meter expiration, if background location is explicitly granted.
E. Communications & Content
We process direct messages sent between drivers during active parking holds. Coordination chats are temporary and automatically purged after hold completion. If you choose to attach photos of parking spaces or street signs, photos are processed solely to verify hold descriptions.
F. Device & Usage Analytics
We automatically collect technical data including device model, operating system version, app version, IP address, performance metrics, and crash diagnostics to ensure app stability and maintain 120 FPS UI performance.
G. Emergency Contacts
If you add emergency contacts, we store the contact names and phone numbers you provide on our servers so they are available across your devices and can be reached during safety alerts. Emergency contacts are used solely for safety notifications and are never shared with other users or used for marketing.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use collected data solely to deliver and improve the Spotto Service:
- Coordinate parking spot holds, arrival statuses, and handoffs between nearby drivers;
- Calculate real-time legal clearance from municipal fire hydrants;
- Send critical push notifications regarding meter expiration and Alternate Side street sweeping;
- Compute driver karma trust scores based on successful handoffs and punctual arrivals;
- Review commercial facility submissions and decide whether listings go live;
- Process subscription, coin, and commercial listing payments and maintain transaction records;
- Prevent abuse, fraud, and violations of community parking etiquette;
- Analyze app performance and debug technical issues.
4. How Information Is Shared
Between Drivers During a Hold: When you claim or create an active hold, we share limited coordination details with your handoff counterpart (your first name, vehicle make/model/color, and ETA status). Your phone number, exact residential address, and ongoing location outside the handoff are NEVER shared with other users.
Service Providers: We share data with trusted infrastructure providers who process information strictly on our behalf under confidential data protection agreements. Identity verification is handled by Stripe Identity; your ID documents are processed by Stripe, not by Spotto.
Legal Compliance: We may disclose information if required by law, subpoena, or to protect the safety of users, emergency services, or the public.
No Data Selling: We do NOT sell, lease, or monetize personal information or location data to advertisers, brokers, or third parties.
5. Data Security & Retention
We implement industry-standard security safeguards, including TLS/HTTPS encryption in transit, encrypted databases at rest, and strict role-based access controls.
We retain account data for as long as your account remains active. Temporary hold coordinates and in-app chat logs are automatically deleted or anonymized following handoff completion.
6. Your Privacy Rights & Choices
You have full control over your data:
- Location Access: You can enable, disable, or adjust location access at any time through your iOS or Android device settings (Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Spotto);
- Push Notifications: You can configure or disable push notification alerts in device settings or within the App profile;
- Account Access & Correction: You can review and update profile details in the App settings;
- Account Deletion: You may permanently delete your account and all associated data directly within the App under Profile > Settings > Delete Account, or by emailing [email protected]. Upon deletion, your profile, vehicle info, and karma history will be permanently erased.
7. Children's Privacy
The Service is strictly designed for licensed motor vehicle drivers aged 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal data from individuals under 18. If we discover that personal data of a minor has been collected, we will delete it immediately.
8. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you through the App, website, or via email before the changes take effect. The "Last Updated" date at the top reflects the current version.
9. Contact Us
For privacy inquiries, data subject access requests, or questions regarding this Privacy Policy:
Spotto NYC Data Privacy Office
Email: [email protected]
Support: [email protected]
Website: https://spottonyc.com
Location: New York, NY, United States