MANAGING PUBLIC SECTOR VEHICLES & EQUIPMENT
A spokesman for the the Albuquerque (N.M.) Police Department said the new take-home policy may allow officers to use their vehicles while in the community coaching youth league teams or being involved in faith-based organizations.
The City of Elkhart, Ind., established a new program beginning Jan. 1 that allows more officers to have take-home cars. The majority of officers now have them.
The City of Waveland, Miss., may change its take-home vehicle policy, and is considering charging employees a use tax to cover vehicle costs.
By implementing a take-home police vehicle program, the Wilmington Police Department (N.C.) is keeping vehicles longer and increasing officer morale.
When David Vasquez created a vehicle justification model to better assess take-home vehicle need, he not only lowered costs by avoiding excess commuter miles, but also gained a better handle on costs of ownership.
The number of fleets restricting personal use of company-provided vehicles decreased from 2008 to 2009.
When the price of fuel is low and budgets are flush, the issue of take-home vehicles slips under the public radar. However, today’s elevated fuel prices and stretched budgets are prompting the local media and elected officials to question unnecessary use of government vehicles. As a result, there have been a number of backlashes against take-home vehicles around the country.