[HISTORY: Adopted by the Harford County Council
by Bill No. 76-87.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended by Bill Nos. 77-6; 77-93]
This chapter shall apply to the use and operation
of all County-owned or -leased vehicles that are primarily designed
for the transportation of passengers and shall apply to pickup trucks
or other trucks whose use or intended purpose is to transport personnel
as well as materials and supplies. This chapter shall apply only to
those operators of vehicles and vehicles titled in the name of the
County, excluding Liquor Board inspectors and vehicles and civil defense,
law enforcement, fire protection and emergency ambulance service operators
and vehicles.
A.
All vehicles utilized or leased by agencies of the
County shall be titled in or leased by the County and may have the
using agency also listed on the title or lease. All vehicles owned
or operated by the County shall have license tags issued by the state
that clearly designate the plate as being issued to a political subdivision
and shall have a decal placed on each side that clearly identifies
the vehicle as being owned or operated by the County.
B.
County vehicles shall be assigned to agencies of the
County government by the County Executive as approved in an Annual
Budget and Appropriation Ordinance. Except as otherwise prohibited
by law, vehicles may be reassigned between agencies by the County
Executive or his designee when assigned vehicles are no longer required
for the efficient, effective operation of the agency to which the
vehicle is assigned.
C.
No vehicle may be assigned to one (1) particular person,
except for the County Executive, district supervisors of the Department
of Parks and Recreation and the Director of Administration or a person
who is regularly assigned to and is actually required to respond to
emergencies on a twenty-four-hour basis. An "emergency" is a situation
involving any unforeseen combination of circumstances or pressing
necessities that may cause the loss of life, limb or property, which
necessitates prompt and immediate action or remedy by the individual
to whom the vehicle is assigned.
D.
No vehicle shall be assigned to an individual whose
record indicates a tendency of being accident-prone or whose driving
habits or general health condition is poor or whose record indicates
a lack of regard for County property or who has not properly used
or maintained, in a careful manner, a previously assigned vehicle.
E.
When not in use, all vehicles shall be available for
other employees requiring transportation for official business. During
normal business hours, except for the County Executive and County
Councilmen, mileage allowances for use of privately owned vehicles
shall not be allowed if a County vehicle is available.
F.
No
County vehicle may be operated by any person who is not an officer
or employee of the County unless authorized by the Director of Administration
in writing. Those individuals permitted to operate County vehicles
must comply with all applicable County requirements.
[Amended by Bill No. 15-016]
G.
Except as provided for herein, no vehicle assignments
shall be made specifically on the basis of seniority or personnel
classification of an individual. Permanent assignment of County-owned
vehicles shall be made only to persons meeting the established criteria.
A.
The operator of a County-owned vehicle shall be personally
responsible for the vehicle assigned to or operated by him. Should
damage result through misuse or gross negligence, the operator may
be required to make restitution to the County. If the vehicle is damaged
beyond repair, such restitution shall be in the amount of the then
current wholesale value of the vehicle as reported in the National
Auto Dealer Association's official guidebook. The employee, having
made such restitution, will then be entitled to the damaged vehicle.
B.
The operator of a County-owned vehicle is charged
with the responsibility to take all reasonable precautions to ensure
the safety of the vehicle and its contents from theft and vandalism.
When leaving a County-owned vehicle, the operator is to lock the vehicle
and take the keys with him, except in those instances when parking
in a commercial parking garage where the operator is required to leave
the keys in the vehicle. When parked on County-owned or -operated
lots, keys shall either be retained by the operator or turned in to
the designated custodian.
C.
County-owned vehicles shall be used for official business
only and, when permanently assigned to personnel required to respond
to emergency calls on a twenty-four-hour basis, for travel directly
to and from home and the designated place of work. Use by anyone of
a County-owned vehicle for personal business, i.e., except as permitted
herein, driving to and from work, transporting members of the family,
transporting children to and from school, shopping or for pleasure,
is prohibited.
D.
County officers and employees may not accept the use,
in the performance of County business, of a motor vehicle which is
not titled to the County, unless the vehicle's owner receives a reasonable
compensation. If such vehicles are to be operated by anyone other
than a County officer or employee on official business, the additional
insurance coverage and the cost thereof shall be paid by the using
department through the County Treasurer's office. A written request
for such arrangements for use of a vehicle not titled to the County
to conduct official business shall be submitted to the County Executive.
E.
Willful disregard of these regulations will be considered
just cause for disciplinary action under the County Personnel Law
and civil service regulations.
F.
All drivers must have a driver's license which is
valid in the state.
G.
All traffic and parking laws are to be obeyed. Posted
speed limits are not to be exceeded, nor is the vehicle to be operated
above safe driving speeds for road conditions. All violation fines
shall be the responsibility of the driver involved.
H.
All accidents are to be reported by vehicle operators
to their agency heads immediately, even though another vehicle is
not involved or there are no apparent injuries or damages. A written
report must be forwarded to the Director of Administration immediately
by the agency head.
I.
A daily travel log shall be maintained in each County-owned
automobile, to be turned in to agency heads on a weekly basis. Logs
must indicate all destinations, stops and miles commuted to and from
residences and principal work locations by the drivers, even if such
vehicles are driven by different individuals. Agencies are required
to have these logs available for audit purposes for a minimum of three
(3) years.
J.
County-owned vehicles are to be efficiently maintained.
Vehicles assigned to agencies unable to provide scheduled maintenance
are to be guided by oil changes, lubrications and maintenance recommendations
of the manufacturer. All warranties are to be exercised.
K.
The use of County credit cards is restricted to County-owned
automobiles, and under no circumstances are such cards to be left
in the custody of service station attendants or other persons not
employed by the County.
The County Executive shall establish intraagency
County-owned motor vehicle pools, in which all vehicles not assigned
to individuals shall be maintained. The reimbursed use of privately
owned vehicles for County business during normal business hours of
the County shall be allowed only when no County-owned vehicle is available.
The County Executive shall establish rules,
regulations and procedures to provide for the effectuation of this
chapter.
