Chapter 1.36
COUNTY AUTOMOBILES

Sections:

1.36.010    County vehicle policy.

1.36.020    Marking requirements and exceptions.

1.36.010 County vehicle policy.

(a)    Purpose. The Chelan County vehicle use policy addresses the use of both county vehicles and personal vehicles on county business. The purpose of this policy is to:

(1)    Provide uniform and consistent criteria for the use of personal or county vehicles on county business.

(2)    Ensure county vehicles are operated consistent with county standards and risk pool requirements.

(3)    Ensure that county vehicles are used only in the course of doing county business, and in accordance with their intended use.

(b)    General Policies. This policy applies to the use of county vehicles and the use of personal vehicles for county business. Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action, including possible termination.

(1)    Safety and Defensive Driver Training.

(A)    Drivers are expected to use county vehicles in a safe and prudent manner.

(B)    Vehicles may be used only when they are in safe operating condition; any problems should be reported to motor pool.

(C)    All drivers shall have received and be current in a county-approved defensive driver training through a course completed either in person or online. New employees must complete defensive driver training within the first year of employment.

(D)    All employees shall complete defensive driver training once every three years.

Emergency vehicle operation training for fully commissioned sheriff’s personnel shall be completed as determined by the sheriff.

Employees requiring a CDL shall complete other training as required by law.

(2)    Seatbelts. All drivers and passengers in county vehicles or personal vehicles on county business must wear a seatbelt in accordance with RCW 46.61.688.

(3)    Use of Tobacco, Drugs or Alcohol. Use of tobacco, drugs, or alcohol while operating a county vehicle is strictly prohibited. Use of drugs or alcohol while driving a personal vehicle on county business is strictly prohibited.

(4)    Use of Cell Phones. Employees and volunteers operating county vehicles or driving personal vehicles on county business shall not use cellular phones while the vehicle is moving unless such use is an emergency, the cell phone is equipped with “hands free” capability, or it is necessary for the completion of county business.

(5)    Authorized Drivers. Only county officials, employees and qualified volunteers are authorized to operate county vehicles, except in an emergency where no other alternative exists.

(A)    Authorized drivers must possess a current, valid driver’s license, and CDL if required.

(B)    Employees/volunteers operating a county vehicle or their personal vehicle for county business will do so in a safe, legal and courteous manner.

(C)    Employees/volunteers will be personally responsible for any fines related to the violation of RCWs related to traffic laws.

(6)    Authorized Passengers. Only individuals directly engaged in activities which are associated with official county business may ride as passengers in a county vehicle. With permission of the elected or appointed official supervising the employee, a spouse may ride with an employee to or from a conference in a county vehicle. No animals may be transported in a county vehicle unless necessary to complete normal job duties.

(7)    Volunteer Use of Vehicles and Equipment. The following conditions must be met in order for a volunteer to drive or operate a vehicle or other equipment:

(A)    There is not a county employee available to drive;

(B)    The volunteer has signed and turned in his/her volunteer agreement;

(C)    The volunteer is eighteen or over;

(D)    The volunteer has the approval of the supervising department head or elected official;

(E)    The volunteer has taken a class, or received training or a certification that allows them to correctly operate the vehicle or equipment.

(8)    Driving Record. Employees should be aware that they may be subject to a driving record history review. Drivers must have a driving record which demonstrates their ability and willingness to drive in a safe and legal manner.

(9)    Insurance (Personal Vehicles). Chelan County employees may, upon the request of the county, be required to provide a copy of current insurance coverage prior to driving a personal vehicle on county business. Mileage reimbursement for business use of a personal vehicle contains compensation for fuel, insurance, vehicle depreciation, and vehicle maintenance. The employee’s automobile insurance is the primary carrier. Employees and volunteers who use their personal vehicle on county business are required to notify their insurance carrier of the business use. Employees or volunteers using a personal vehicle on county business are required to carry a minimum of one hundred thousand dollars liability coverage through his or her personal automobile insurance carrier.

(10)    Fuel (County Vehicles). County vehicles will be fueled at county-approved facilities whenever possible. Drivers of county vehicles will be provided with a county gas credit card to be used at specified gas stations. Other means of purchasing fuel will only be used if the county gas cards, or the specified fueling stations, are not available.

(11)    Limitation on Personal Use (County Vehicles). County vehicles shall only be used in the scope and course of county business. Employees may not use county vehicles for personal matters (including transport of children to school or daycare facilities) except under one of the following conditions:

(A)    Travel when an employee is on county business, in a location where driving to a personal vehicle would result in an extra and unnecessary expenditure of county time or money, or the employee has a vehicle specifically assigned to him or her.

(B)    Limited and incidental personal use, such as driving to eating establishments while traveling or at a conference, or traveling to events and emergencies.

Chelan County maintains a no deviation policy. Employees/volunteers who use county vehicles for purposes outside this policy are not considered “at work” and any injuries sustained from accidents during such times are not subject to compensation including worker’s compensation.

(c)    Employee Acknowledgement. All employees checking out a county vehicle will be required to read and sign off acknowledging that they have read through the county vehicle use policy. This acknowledgement will be kept on file with motor pool.

A copy of the vehicle use policy will be in the glove box of each county vehicle along with the accident information packet and checklist. Prior to driving the vehicle each employee should locate and verify that these documents are available in the vehicle.

Vehicle Use Policy Form

I, (Please Print Name) have read and understand the Chelan County Vehicle Use Policy, which applies to both the use of county vehicles and the use of personal vehicles for county business. Please check one of the following:

____ I have attended or taken online a Defensive Driving course in the past three years;

or

____ I am a new employee, or a current employee who has not yet attended, and have signed up to attend a Defensive Driving course when they are offered again.

____________________    ____________________

Employee Signature    Date

____________________

Department

(Res. 2007-25, 2/20/07).

1.36.020 Marking requirements and exceptions.

(a)    All county vehicles shall be marked in accordance with RCW 46.08.065, as amended, with the following exceptions as authorized by RCW 46.08.065:

(1)    Vehicles used for law enforcement purposes, limited to the vehicles assigned to the county sheriff’s department, the county prosecuting attorney’s office, and the county juvenile court services;

(2)    Vehicles used for confidential public health work;

(3)    Vehicles used for public assistance fraud or support investigative purposes;

(4)    Vehicles leased or rented by the county on a casual basis for a period of less than ninety days; and

(5)    Vehicles granted use of confidential license plates by the director of motor vehicles for necessary personal security of a county officer or employee.

(b)    The board of county commissioners reserves the right to determine whether county vehicles are used for purposes listed in the exceptions of the rule enacted in subsection (a) of this section. (Res. 2014-114, 11/10/2014: Res. 239-B, January 23, 1950 at Vol. 395 page 363).