Yuba County Municipal Code Ch. 2.150 County Vehicles

Each agency and department head of the County of Yuba shall be responsible for assuring that all employees within his or her agency or department who drive vehicles on County business are thoroughly aware of and comply with these rules and regulations.

(Prior Code, § 2.150.010; Ord. No. 1022; Ord. No. 1150)

(a) Responsibility for County vehicles shall be centralized under the direction of the Director of Administrative Services of Yuba County subject to policy and fiscal control by the Board of Supervisors. The Director of Administrative Services shall likewise manage the Automotive Service Fund and administer the County-Wide Motor Pool Operation.

(b) County vehicles shall be operated only by authorized County employees, officers or agents possessing a valid California driver's license of proper class for the vehicle being operated.

(c) Use of County vehicles for any purpose other than County business is prohibited.

(d) Use of a County vehicle for transportation to home or a restaurant for meals is prohibited unless the following conditions exist:

(1) En route while on field duty or attending a meeting or official County business.

(2) Permanent retention of a County vehicle.

(e) Transportation of any person not connected with County business is prohibited in County vehicles except where (1) with prior approval of the agency or department head such transportation is in the furtherance of County business, or (2) in situations posing immediate personal danger, an employee may assist any such person to any other location. This Subsection shall not otherwise permit the transport of individuals to non-work related destinations or for non-work purposes. The Board of Supervisors may grant additional exceptions in appropriate circumstances and on a case-by-case basis without amendment to this Chapter.

(f) Members of the Board of Supervisors and their spouses may attend local, regional or State meetings by travel in County owned vehicles. With the written approval of the appropriate County agency or department head, County employees may transport their spouses to local, regional or State meetings by travel in County owned vehicles; provided, however, there shall be no additional cost incurred by the County by such travel and no County employee shall be displaced from travel in a County owned vehicle by the application of this Section.

(g) Seat belts shall be worn while operating or riding in County vehicles. The driver of the vehicle shall be responsible for passenger adherence to this rule.

(Prior Code, § 2.150.020; Ord. No. 1150; Ord. No. 1386)

Administrative Services Director shall plan, organize and direct all facets of the County vehicle program including but not limited to the following:

(1) Scheduling, coordinating and supervising all maintenance and repair activities.

(2) Establishing and maintaining a maintenance and repair cost program.

(3) Preparing recommendations and specifications for replacement and/or new vehicles.

(4) Transferring vehicles between departments.

(5) Preparing surplus vehicles for disposal.

(6) Preparing new and/or replacement vehicles for service.

(7) Managing all facets of a centralized motor pool.

(8) Performing related duties as required.

(9) Monitoring contract performance of Non-County service providers.

(Prior Code, § 2.150.030; Ord. No. 1150; Ord. No. 1386)

(a) The head of the agency or department to which vehicles are assigned shall:

(1) Be responsible for the enforcement of rules and regulations contained in this Chapter.

(2) Be responsible for the effective utilization of assigned vehicles.

(3) Aggressively support the concept of defensive driving.

(4) Review accidents and assure corrective action is taken.

(5) Maintain a current listing of employees driver's license expiration dates.

(b) All agency and department heads are responsible for determining and budgeting their transportation requirements, and for utilizing the most efficient transportation means available. Where long-term assignments of vehicles are justified, and approved by the Board of Supervisors, agency and department heads will ensure efficient utilization and prompt return to the County garage for scheduled maintenance.

(Prior Code, § 2.150.040; Ord. No. 1150)

All County officers, employees and agents when using County vehicles, shall:

(1) Operate County vehicles in a safe, reasonable manner consistent with the intended use of the vehicle.

(2) Observe all traffic laws, rules and regulations. Fines and penalties imposed for violation of traffic laws, rules and regulations while on County business are the responsibility of the driver.

(3) Whenever possible, inspect an assigned vehicle to ensure its safe operating condition.

a. Inspection shall include safety components such as: Stop, turn and tail lights; head lamps; windshield wipers; tires, and seat belts. In addition, engine oil and coolant levels shall be checked. County agency or department heads may designate one employee to inspect all assigned vehicles.

b. If there is evidence of accident damage, it shall be reported immediately to the supervisor of the County agency or department before leaving parking area.

(Prior Code, § 2.150.050; Ord. No. 1150)

(a) Where continuing assignments of vehicles are considered to be in the best interest of the County, authorization of assignment shall be made by the Board of Supervisors.

(b) Justification for continuing assignment of a specific vehicle to an individual or department shall be based on consideration of the following:

(1) Efficient operation of the County agency or department.

(2) Efficient use of the vehicle.

(3) Security of the vehicle and its contents.

(4) Cost.

(5) Benefit to the public.

(6) Emergency response.

(7) Other vehicle use policies specified in the Administrative Procedures Manual.

(c) Vehicle assignments shall automatically terminate on July 1 of each year and shall be reviewed annually by the Board of Supervisors. Assignments shall be reviewed in accordance with the above for continued assignment.

(Prior Code, § 2.150.060; Ord. No. 1150)

(a) County agency and department heads shall authorize issuance of a County vehicle to employees required to use such vehicles in connection with their work. Overnight assignments or extended trip use require written authorization by the requesting County agency or department head and prior approval by the Administrative Services Director.

(b) To insure maximum utilization, employees shall not check out vehicles until actually required. Vehicles shall be returned to the motor pool immediately upon completion of need. Shared vehicles shall be used whenever feasible.

(Prior Code, § 2.150.070; Ord. No. 1150; Ord. No. 1386)

(a) For County business only. A vehicle owned or maintained for the use or service of the County shall not be used for any purpose other than County business or the performance of a duty of a County official or employee.

(b) Observe traffic rules. Employees on County business shall observe traffic rules, regulations and courtesies at all times. Fines or penalties levied for violations for which the driver is directly responsible shall be paid by the driver.

(c) Driver's license. Any driver of a County vehicle shall have in his or her possession a valid California driver's license.

(d) Seat belts/seating. It is required that all vehicles used on County business be equipped with seat belts. It is further required that all persons in County vehicles use seat belts. Carrying passengers in any part of a vehicle not designed for passengers (i.e. the bed of a pickup truck) is forbidden.

(e) No unauthorized persons. Except as otherwise provided herein, employees are prohibited from carrying non-County employees, or other persons not directly related to County business, in County vehicles.

(f) Abuse of vehicles. County vehicles, other than those specified for such purposes, shall not be used to push stalled vehicles, or be used for any other activity that may damage the vehicle.

(Prior Code, § 2.150.080; Ord. No. 1150)

(a) Any employee using a County vehicle, or a private vehicle on official County business, involved in any type of a vehicle accident, whether or not visible damage is apparent, shall report the accident on forms provided in each County vehicle as soon as appropriate emergency action has been taken. The completed form is to be turned in to the County agency or department head. If the employee involved in such a vehicle accident is not physically able to do so, it shall be the responsibility of the County agency or department head to arrange to have the employee interviewed and complete the accident report form. When possible, pictures should be taken to accompany the report. The accident report form shall be signed and dated where indicated in the instructions. It shall be the responsibility of the County agency or department head or his or her designee to complete and forward the County Accident Report Form to the County Safety Officer in the County Risk Management Department.

(b) The Safety Officer shall deal with the report as may be provided from time to time in the County Safety Manual.

(c) At no time shall an officer, employee or agent of the County discuss any accident or facts related thereto with any one other than an investigative law enforcement officer, the employee's insurance company or County agency or department head without approval of County Counsel. All inquiries shall be referred to the Risk Manager who shall refer all such inquiries to the County Counsel.

(d) After clearance by the County Counsel, all personnel shall cooperate with the County in the investigation of the accident.

(Prior Code, § 2.150.090; Ord. No. 1150)

By mutual consent of the County and employee, the use of privately owned vehicles may be allowed when such use is determined to be in the best interest of the County. However, prior to use of a private vehicle on County business, all of the following conditions must be met:

(1) Authorization of individual's agency or department head.

(2) A valid California driver's license shall be in the driver's possession at all times.

(3) Vehicles shall be adequately insured: The liability insurance coverage on any private vehicle used in County business must conform to the minimum requirements as set forth in Vehicle Code § 16020 ($15,000.00/$30,000.00 public liability and $5,000.00 property damage).

(4) The vehicle shall be in sound mechanical condition adequate for providing required transportation in a safe manner. If the County agency or department head or the Safety Officer has reason to believe that a safety inspection is necessary, either may order an inspection at an appropriate facility at County expense to determine the safety of a private vehicle used on County business.

(5) The vehicle shall be equipped with seat belts.

(6) County officers, employees, and members of boards, commissions and committees shall, prior to the use of privately owned vehicles on County business, complete a certificate which shall attest to the following:

a. That the driver of such privately owned vehicle is currently licensed, that the driver's license and vehicle license have not been revoked or suspended, and that restrictions concerning the license will be met by the driver.

b. That the driver and automobile are insured by a company authorized to do business in the State of California in the minimum amounts specified by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

c. That the driver has read Chapter 2.150 of the Yuba County Ordinance Code and that the driver will faithfully abide thereby.

(Prior Code, § 2.150.100; Ord. No. 1150)

(a) Employees may be held personally liable for damages to County equipment, in addition to other penalties as may be assessed, if through negligence, or in the course of unauthorized activities, damage occurs to a County vehicle.

(b) Employees may be held personally liable when they are driving a County vehicle outside the course and scope of their employment and cause damage to other persons or property.

(Prior Code, § 2.150.110; Ord. No. 1150)

A violation of this Chapter may be cause for disciplinary action.

(Prior Code, § 2.150.120; Ord. No. 1150)

If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, provision or portion of this Chapter, or the application thereof to any person or circumstances, is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions or provisions of this Chapter or their applicability to distinguishable situations or circumstances. In enacting this Chapter, it is the desire of the Board of Supervisors to validly regulate to the full measure of its legal authority in the public interest, and to that end, the Board of Supervisors declares that it would have adopted this Chapter and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, provision, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases or portions thereof might be declared invalid or unconstitutional in whole or in part, as applied to any particular situation or circumstances, and to this end the provisions of this Chapter are intended to be severable.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Government Code § 23.