(A) Policy. Vehicles may be purchased and assigned to departments or individuals for the purpose of carrying out their duties or responsibilities as officials or employees of the county. All county-owned vehicles must be clearly marked with a county decal. Highway or law enforcement vehicles, except for unmarked law enforcement vehicles, shall be specially identified. All vehicle purchases must be approved by the County Commissioners and the County Council. Purchase of vehicles will be done through the Commissioners’ office.
(B) Use of vehicles. County-owned vehicles may only be used by county employees and will be used for transportation within the county and for county business except as follows.
(1) County-owned vehicles may be taken outside the county in furtherance of county business with prior approval of a department supervisor. A log will be kept by each department setting forth the date, destination and purpose of each trip outside of the county.
(2) Law enforcement officers may use vehicles for personal use within the county in accordance with the Sheriff’s Department policy G.O. 21100.00.
(C) Maintenance of vehicles.
(1) Each individual to whom a vehicle has been assigned will be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the vehicle. Maintenance cost invoices must identify vehicles on which work is being performed including replacement parts.
(2) Vehicles shall at all times be kept clean.
(3) If the vehicle is unassigned to a specific employee, the maintenance requirement set out in divisions (C)(1) and (C)(2) above is the responsibility of the supervisor of the department to which the vehicle is assigned.
(4) Evidence of improper maintenance or abuse is sufficient for revoking assignment of the vehicle.
(D) Vehicle damage responsibility.
(1) Damage to any county-owned vehicle shall be reported immediately to the department supervisor and a written report made by the employee within 24 hours.
(2) A copy of all damage reports will be transmitted to the Commissioners’ office and to the Human Resources Department. Copies of repair estimates and accident reports will also be sent to the above departments.
(3) Repairs to any vehicle will be done only after approval of the Commissioners’ office except for the Sheriff’s Department vehicles which will be in accordance with Sheriff’s policy G.O. 21100.00.
(4) Any employee involved in a traffic accident requiring an accident report is responsible for the proper completion of State Form SR 21.
(E) Obedience to traffic regulations. Employees operating motor vehicles shall conform to all laws regulating traffic and set an example of good driving to each other as well as to the public.
(F) Enforcement of policy. For those departments that are under the jurisdiction of the Commissioners including Planning and Development, Zoning, Weights and Measures, Emergency Management, Building, Building and Grounds, Solid Waste and Highway, the enforcement of this policy will be the responsibility of the Board of Commissioners. For all elected officials and departments not under the Commissioners’ jurisdiction, the responsibilities for enforcement will be under the County Council.
(Prior Code, § 36-2-2-20) (Order of 12-4-1877, 8 COM REC 466; Order of 11-7-1977, 31 COM REC 275; Ord. passed 6-19-1978, 78 COM REC 306–307; Order of 9-7-1982, 92 COM REC 346; Order of 7-18-1988, 88 COM REC 866; Ord. passed 8-15-1988, 88 COM REC 970–970A; Order of 5-10-1986, 86 CCM 108–109; Order of 4-2-1990, 90 COM REC 522–523)