(A) Purpose. Town vehicles and equipment are essential tools in accomplishing an employee’s job duties. This policy is intended to ensure the safety and well-being of town employees, facilitate the efficient use of town resources, minimize the town’s exposure to liability and monitor the use of the town’s vehicles and equipment.
(B) Approval. When an employee leaves the town using a town vehicle, they are to notify the Clerk-Treasurer’s office.
(C) Operation.
(1) Only town employees with a valid driver’s license may operate town vehicles or equipment. Employees are responsible for immediately notifying the Clerk-Treasurer of any restrictions, limitations, or other change in their driving status. Town vehicles and equipment are to be used as necessary to conduct business of the town and its operations. Employees shall not operate town vehicles or equipment for the purposes of conducting a private business or enterprise or any other personal use. However, it is recognized that a de minimums amount of personal use during the course of a scheduled shift, to include meal breaks, whether at the employee’s residence or at a commercial establishment, are permitted as determined by the employee’s supervisor. The operation of a town vehicle to and from such personal use does not constitute work time and the employee is considered off the clock until they arrive at a bona-fide work assignment.
(2) Town employees must wear seat belts and obey traffic laws when using town-owned vehicles. Town employees are strictly prohibited from operating a town-owned vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs, or under the influence of prescription medication which may impair their ability to safely operate a vehicle. No employee shall transport alcohol in a town vehicle, excluding sworn police officers, if the alcohol is being transported in accordance with official duties.
(3) Town employees shall refrain from operating handheld cellular telephones or any other device that may cause the town employee to become distracted while driving a town-owned vehicle. Employees shall make every attempt to properly park the town-owned vehicle or use a hands-free device when using such equipment.
(D) Passengers. Town vehicles are permitted to transport non-employees for town business or when attending training, conferences or town-sanctioned events. Other activities will require prior approval of the employee’s supervisor or liaison.
(E) Traffic violations and accidents. Any employee receiving a traffic or parking citation while operating a town-owned vehicle shall immediately notify their supervisor. All fines and costs associated with the citation are the responsibility of the employee. In the event of an accident involving any level of damage, the employee driving the town-owned vehicle shall immediately notify his or her supervisor. If the accident is required to be reported to the police, the town employee shall immediately report the accident to the police. In the event of a traffic citation or accident where the employee is determined to be at fault, disciplinary action will be taken.
(Res. 2017-1212, passed 12-12-2017)