(A) Police Department vehicles may be assigned to employees in order to meet the goals and objectives of the Police Department. Any employee who is provided with a take home vehicle must:
(1) Wear safety belts properly fastened about the body and ensure appropriate passengers are properly seat belted;
(2) Not allow personal passengers in the vehicle;
(3) Not allow anyone else to drive his or her vehicle;
(4) Personal use of the vehicle should be kept to minimum and employees are expected to use good judgment when it come to using the vehicle for personal use;
(5) No employee shall operate, or be caused to operate a department vehicle, whether on duty or off duty, after consuming an intoxicating beverages and or under the influence of a controlled substance;
(6) Consider road conditions, traffic and weather conditions at all times while operating a departmental vehicle;
(7) Lock his or her vehicles upon leaving them unattended for an extended period of time;
(8) Employees shall be responsible for the conduct and appearance of all passengers at all times so as not to reflect negatively upon the Department; and
(9) Departmental vehicles shall only be operated within town and adjoining counties, with the following exceptions:
(a) While on official town business;
(b) While attending pre-approved training sessions; and
(c) With approval from the Town Council.
(B) Police officers should refer to their departmental SOP for further instructions.
(C) Any employee involved in an accident must submit to a post accident drug and alcohol test as soon as possible after an accident, whenever he or she receives a citation for a moving violation involving the accident, and:
(1) Either a person is injured because of the accident and the injuries require immediate medical treatment to the person away from the accident scene; and
(2) One or more motor vehicles involved in the accident incur truck disabling damage and must be transported away from the accident scene by a tow or another vehicle.
(D) An employee who is required to take a post-accident drug and alcohol test will, at the town’s discretion, either be assigned to a position which does not require driving town vehicles, or placed on non-disciplinary suspension with pay while awaiting the post accident test results.
(E) An employee who tests positive for drugs and/or alcohol, or who refuses or fails to submit to a post accident drug and alcohol test will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge. Employees may not use town vehicles for outside employment unless the purpose of the job relates to security purposes. The Town Council will have final approval on any outside employment that involves the use of a town vehicle.
(Ord. 2016-07, passed 12-28-2016)