BATON ROUGE, LA – The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office has reviewed its take-home policy and has taken 36 unmarked cars and trucks from deputies and other workers who don't need them for round-the-clock duty, according to the Advocate.

The agency placed decals on 70 other vehicles and started a pool system that allows employees to check out vehicles for official business during work hours. An October Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audit of the Caddo Parish Commission prompted the changes.

Federal regulations say that many unmarked vehicles also used for personal travel are part of an employee's compensation package and considered taxable income. Employees who use publicly-owned vehicles to commute, but don't need them for business during that time, are getting a "non-cash fringe benefit" and must report it as taxable income, according to the IRS.