About
Wisconsin has an "Open Records Law" that allows any member of the public to inspect most records maintained by the state. Both Wisconsin and federal laws identify select records that are confidential or that may be disclosed only for limited purposes (Wisconsin Department of Transportation Access to Public Records Policy).
During your visit to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's (WisDOT) I-94 North-South Freeway Project Internet site, information that cannot be directly linked to individuals is automatically collected and stored. This information is used to improve our Web services but is open to inspection under the public records law. For more detail on our privacy policy, please see the expanded statement below.
- Use of collected information
- Personal information and choice
- Public disclosure
- Access and correction of personal information
- Cookies
- Security
- External links
- How to contact us
Use of collected information
If you do nothing during your visit to the WisDOT I-94 North-South Internet site but browse or download information, we automatically collect and store the following information about your visit:
- 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. The Internet Protocol Address is always required when your computer communicates with any site.
- The type of browser and operating system you used.
- The date and time you visited this site.
- The Web pages or services you accessed at this site
- The Web site you visited prior to coming to this Web site.
We use the information we automatically collect or store to improve the content of our Web services and to help us understand how people are using our services. WisDOT, or its subconsultants, analyzes our Web site logs to continually improve the value of the materials available on our site. Our Web site logs do not contain information identifying individuals, and the Department of Transportation and its subconsultants do not generally make attempts to link them with individuals. However, in the event of an attempt to compromise our Web server or this system, we may provide Internet Protocol address(es) or other information requested to state officials, to law enforcement authorities, or to Internet Service Providers.
If during your visit to the WisDOT I-94 North-South Internet site you participate in a survey, sign up for a service, or send an e-mail, the following additional information will be collected:
- E-mail correspondence: The e-mail address and contents of the e-mail.
- Surveys and Services: Any information you volunteered in response to a survey or in signing up for a service.
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 applicable laws and administrative rules.
If you communicate to us via e-mail or if you provide your e-mail address to us, we may use your e-mail address to respond to you, in internal communications, to address issues you identify, to further improve our Web site, or to forward the e-mail to another agency for appropriate action. Both the e-mail message and your e-mail address may become public records open to inspection by any member of the general public.
Survey and Service information is used for the purpose designated.
Personal information and choice
"Personal information" is information about an individual that is readily identifiable to that specific individual. Personal information includes personal identifiers such as an individual's name, address, and phone number. A domain name or Internet Protocol address is not considered personal information.
We do not collect personal information about you while using our general Internet Web site at www.dot.wisconsin.gov. But if you use secured portions of our site or voluntarily participate in a activity that asks for information (i.e., sending an e-mail or participating in a survey), such information may be required and retained. 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 WisDOT I-94 North-South Internet site.
If personal information is requested on the Web site or volunteered by the user, state law 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 protected 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.
Public disclosure
In the State of Wisconsin, laws exist to ensure that government is open and that the public has a right to access appropriate records and information possessed by state government. At the same time, there are exceptions to the public's right to access public records that serve various needs: the privacy of individuals is included among these exceptions. Exceptions are provided by both state and federal laws.
We strive to protect personally identifiable information by collecting only information necessary to deliver our services. 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 Privacy Notice and the Wisconsin Open Records Law or other law governing the disclosure of records, the Wisconsin Open Records Law or other applicable law will control.
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 the "How to contact us" information here.
Cookies
WisDOT's I-94 North-South Internet site uses session cookies. The information on these cookies will be retained only while your session is active.
Security
WisDOT 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 WisDOT operating environment as part of its continuing commitment to risk management.
Secure Web sites have a URL that starts with https://, the "s" denoting that the site is secure. Transactions on WisDOT's secure sites and on the state Department of Administration's secure sites are protected by 128-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology. The SSL protocol permits the encryption of data exchanged with WisDOT so it cannot be read by an unauthorized user. When you come to a page that has the https:// prefix, you can check the X.509 security certificate by double-clicking on the locked padlock icon ( ) at the bottom of the browser window. While the main WisDOT Web site does not use SSL, all Web pages that require the entering of information into computer applications at WisDOT do use SSL.
This information should not be construed in any way as giving business, legal, or other advice. This information should not be construed as warranting as fail-proof the security of information provided through WisDOT supported Web sites.
This system is for authorized use only. Actual or attempted unauthorized access to this system or to any data on this system is a violation of criminal statute s. 943.70, Wis. Stats., and is punishable by fines up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 10 years. Unauthorized access or attempts will be prosecuted.
External links
The WisDOT I-94 North-South Internet 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 a WisDOT Internet site and this Privacy Notice will not apply. When you link to another Web site, you are subject to the privacy policy of that new site.
How to contact us
To offer comments about the WisDOT I-94 North-South Internet site, or to comment about the information presented in this Privacy Notice, please contact us.