[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of County Commissioners (now
County Council) of Cecil County 12-28-1982; amended in its entirety 12-10-1991. Subsequent
amendments noted where applicable.]
The policy enumerated hereafter applies to anyone who operates
any vehicle owned, leased and/or insured by Cecil County, Maryland.
Failure to comply with any of these regulations could result in loss
of driving privileges, disciplinary action and/or termination.
A.
Anyone who operates a vehicle that is in service to the Cecil County
government must have his/her motor vehicle record approved by the
Human Resources Department. Driving records are a condition of employment
for those operating motor vehicles.
B.
Department heads (including elected officials) may request approval
for additional existing employees to be added by sending the following
information, in writing, to the Human Resources Department:
C.
After receiving the above information, the Human Resources Office
will conduct a review of the prospective driver's record.
(1)
The following guidelines, developed using the Maryland Motor Vehicle
Administration's status and point system, are used:
(a)
Current license status. Only those persons possessing a valid
license will be considered for positions within County government
and be permitted to drive a County vehicle. Eligible, suspended or
revoked license status is not acceptable for driving a County vehicle.
(b)
In addition to the criterion of license status, current point
total will be considered.
|
Point System
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Status
|
Current Point Total
|
Human Resources Department Action
| |
|
Valid
|
0, 1, 2, 3
|
Eligible to operate County motor vehicles
| |
|
Valid
|
4, 5
|
Eligible to operate County motor vehicle; memorandum sent to
department head/elected official making him/her aware of the situation
and asking him/her to review the same with employee
| |
|
Valid
|
6+
|
Cannot drive County motor vehicle; memorandum to that effect
sent to department head/elected official along with a copy of driving
record. If not driving a County vehicle limits employee's ability
to perform duties/job, said employee will be terminated.
| |
(2)
Should a prospective or existing employee hold other than a Maryland
driver's license, the guidelines above will be applied, but modified
as necessary for the employee's respective state.
(3)
The Sheriff's Department and the Department of Emergency Services
will conduct their own check of motor vehicle records and will certify
the driving records of their employees by sending a copy of the report
supplied by the Motor Vehicle Administration to the Human Resources
Department.
[Amended 11-13-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-12]
D.
County employees who operate motor vehicles are responsible for adhering
to regulations issued by their department, in conjunction with the
Human Resources Department.
E.
All driving records of employees who operate County-owned or -leased
motor vehicles will be reviewed by the Human Resources Department
every two years or as requested.
F.
The Human Resources Department will administer a driver's safety
course for all employees who operate County motor vehicles. The course
must be completed every two years or as required.
G.
Once an employee is determined eligible to operate a County motor
vehicle, he/she will remain eligible as long as the following conditions
are met:
(1)
The person remains employed by Cecil County.
(2)
The employee holds a valid driver's license for the state in
which he or she resides and provides documentation that his or her
driving privileges in Maryland have not been revoked.
(3)
No more than five points accumulate on the employee's driving
record.
(4)
The employee follows the Cecil County Motor Vehicle Operators Regulations.
H.
In addition to the possible grounds for revocation of driving privileges
enumerated above, any person may be determined ineligible to drive
for cause, as determined by the Department of Human Resources in conjunction
with the department head/elected official.
A.
All operators are responsible for obeying the laws of the state/jurisdiction
in which they are driving. Any violations of such laws are the operator's
responsibility.
B.
No alcoholic beverages or illicit drugs are permitted to be used
or carried within the vehicle at any time.
C.
No hitchhikers or unauthorized personnel are to be permitted to ride
in or operate any vehicle at any time.
D.
All employees are responsible for operating the vehicle in a safe
and efficient manner. Any abuse of the vehicle will not be tolerated
and may lead to suspension or termination.
F.
Mechanical problems must be reported as soon as possible to the department
head/supervisor, and the vehicle must be taken to the Roads Department
for the necessary corrections.
G.
All litter must be removed from the vehicle, and the appearance of
the vehicles maintained.
H.
All factory-installed safety equipment shall be utilized in the manner
intended when installed.
[Added 11-13-2012 by Ord.
No. 2012-12]
A.
Applicability.
This section 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 section shall apply only to those operators of
vehicles and vehicles titled in the name of the County, excluding
law enforcement operators and vehicles.
B.
Identification
and assignment to County personnel.
(1)
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, except unidentified police
vehicles.
(2)
County
vehicles shall be assigned to departments of the County government
by the County Executive as approved in the annual budget. Except as
otherwise prohibited by law, vehicles may be reassigned between departments
by the County Executive or his designee when assigned vehicles are
no longer required for the efficient, effective operation of the department
to which the vehicle is assigned.
(3)
No
vehicle shall be operated by 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.
(4)
When
not in use, all vehicles shall be available for other employees requiring
transportation for official business. During normal business hours,
mileage allowances for use of privately owned vehicles shall not be
allowed if a County vehicle is available.
(5)
No
County vehicle may be operated by any person who is not an officer
or employee of the County.
C.
Rules
for operation.
(1)
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.
(2)
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.
(3)
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; children to and
from school; shopping; or for pleasure is prohibited.
(4)
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 Director of Finance'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.
(6)
All
drivers must have a driver's license which is valid in the state.
(7)
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.
(8)
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.
(9)
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 years.
(10)
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.
(11)
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.
