Privacy Policy & Data Safety.
Last Updated & Effective: September 1, 2026
We never sell, rent, or monetize your personal or location data to third-party data brokers or advertisers.
In-app driver-to-driver handoff messages are private, temporary, and purged automatically after coordination.
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 spottowebsite.pages.dev, 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:
When you register, we collect your name, email address, optional mobile phone number (used for SMS arrival notifications), 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.
With your permission, we collect precise GPS coordinates while using the App to:
- Display nearby available parking holds and municipal meter zones;
- Calculate your sub-foot 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.
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.
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.
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;
- 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 (e.g., Firebase Authentication & Firestore, Cloudflare Pages, Google Cloud Platform) who process data strictly on our behalf under confidential data protection agreements.
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: