Chapter 2.90
VEHICLE USE FOR COUNTY BUSINESS
Sections:
2.90.010 General—Policy, purpose, application.
2.90.040 Parking and overnight retention.
2.90.010 General—Policy, purpose, application.
A. Policy and Purpose. The board of supervisors hereby expresses its policy and purpose in the enactment of this chapter to be as follows:
1. To provide uniform rules and regulations governing the use and operation of vehicles used on county business;
2. To establish a uniform policy on transportation for officials and employees in the conduct of county business;
3. To authorize by resolution of the board of supervisors detailed rules governing specific aspects of certain matters referred to in this chapter;
4. To establish “public purpose” for using county vehicles.
B. Application. The rules and regulations set forth in this chapter shall be applicable to use of county-owned passenger vehicles, patrol cars, and trucks by all county officers, employees and volunteers, including elected and appointed department directors. For purposes of this section, “county-owned vehicles” shall include any motor vehicle owned by or under the control of the county and provided for the use of any county official, employee, agent or volunteer in the performance of official duties.
Under the regulations set forth in this chapter, county officers, including elected and appointed department directors, shall have the basic responsibility for the proper use of vehicles assigned to their departments.
In setting forth such rules and regulations, the board directly and specifically charges each agency or department head with the responsibility of ensuring that all officials, officers, and employees of their agency or department who operate vehicles on county business are thoroughly aware of the contents of this chapter and that they comply with such regulations at all times. (Ord. 681 § 1, 2007)
2.90.020 Personal use.
County-owned vehicles are for official use only. Personal use of county-owned vehicles is prohibited, except as provided herein. (Ord. 681 § 2, 2007)
2.90.030 Vehicle operation.
A. Employees shall be prohibited from carrying passengers in county vehicles who are not related to county business. The board of supervisors or its designee may grant approval in writing to carry specified passenger(s) or to use a county vehicle in appropriate circumstances and on a case-by-case basis without amendment to this chapter.
B. Employees shall be required to observe all traffic laws at all times. Drivers shall operate vehicles not only in compliance with law, but in compliance with safe driving practices including but not limited to obeying speed limits and using seat belts. Fines and penalties imposed by a court for a violation while on county business shall be the personal responsibility of the driver.
C. Parking citations issued to a county vehicle shall be the responsibility of the employee who parked the vehicle.
D. Employees shall operate county vehicles in an ordinary, reasonable manner consistent with the intended use of the vehicle. Except for vehicles engaged in law enforcement work, they shall not be used in activities which may damage the vehicle.
E. The use of any tobacco product by any driver of a county vehicle is prohibited.
F. The use of alcohol by any driver of a county vehicle is prohibited.
G. The use of a cell phone while driving a vehicle is prohibited, unless it is an emergency or law enforcement vehicle and during an emergency. A hands-free device may be used at any time.
H. The costs of repairing damages to county vehicles resulting from gross negligence, abuse or willful misconduct by the employee having custody of the vehicle shall be recoverable from the employee. (Ord. 681 § 3, 2007)
2.90.040 Parking and overnight retention.
A. General. When not in use on county business, county vehicles shall at all times be kept at designated locations on county property. Upon written approval of the board of supervisors or its designee, any vehicle may be granted an exemption from this requirement.
B. Criteria for Overnight Retention. Justification for overnight retention shall be based on the following criteria:
1. A vehicle is assigned to a county officer, elected official, department director or employee who is required to participate regularly in official county business after normal business hours.
2. The employee must respond to emergencies which require immediate attention during off-duty hours for the protection of persons or property specifically requiring the presence of the employee in a supervisory or technical capacity. Such emergencies shall require immediate travel to the emergency scene. An average of at least three emergency calls per month requiring travel shall be documented. This subsection shall not apply to emergency responders utilizing fire apparatus.
3. The employee’s duties are such that the checkout of a county vehicle from a county facility at the start or end of a normal workday would be both impractical and uneconomical due to lost time and increased county transportation costs. In such cases, it shall be determined that the employee’s productive working hours would be reduced by travel time if the vehicle were not parked at the residence.
C. Temporary Overnight Retention. Temporary overnight retention shall be permitted:
1. When an employee is working on a special assignment requiring continuous availability of a county vehicle. Such authorization shall only extend over the span of the special assignment.
2. When an employee requires the use of a county vehicle to attend county business and/or a training session in or out of the county, and such assignment is to the benefit of the county. (Ord. 681 § 4, 2007)
2.90.050 Enforcement.
Noncompliance with this chapter and these rules and regulations shall be enforced through the respective memorandums of understanding or other county procedures for discipline of county employees. (Ord. 681 § 5, 2007)