Policy Text
Policy
706San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/10/31, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentPolice Department Standby Vehicle Policy - 1Police Department Standby Vehicle Policy
706.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This document establishes a policy regarding the effective usage of City of San Luis Police
Department vehicles assigned to employees for standby duty. Frequently, employees will use
these city vehicles for take home purposes to be on-call, attend training or use outside of
their normally scheduled shifts (i.e. surveillance) or as a part of their regular assignment (i.e.
Investigations).
This policy does not apply to Police Department employees using Police Department vehicles (i.e.
marked patrol cars, assigned detective vehicles) as part of their normally scheduled shift during
the course of their regularly scheduled duties.
Employees assigned a Police Department standby vehicle can be authorized to take a vehicle
home when the employee is assigned to duties which may require an immediate response to a
work related event requiring the employees presence or when an employee is required to have
immediate access to specialized vehicles, tools, or equipment. Employees may be assigned a
standby vehicle when traveling to a school, conference or other work related activity. Vehicle
assignments will be based primarily on the operational needs of the department.
A Police Department employee must not use the standby vehicle for personal purposes, other
than for commuting or de minimis use.
Note: This policy is a supplemental policy of the City Standby Vehicle Policy and to Police
Department Policy Manual 706, Vehicle Use. Police Department employees using other City
vehicles, not assigned to the Police Department, must follow the policies written in the City Standby
Vehicle Policy.
706.1.1 DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this policy:
De minimis means a minimal amount of use secondary to the primary vehicle use of benefit to
the City. Example: A stop for a brief personal errand on the direct route between work and the
employee's home.
Employee means any individual employed by the City of San Luis Obispo.
Standby duty is defined as that circumstance which requires an employee so assigned to: Be
ready to respond immediately to a call for service; be readily available at all hours by telephone or
other agreed-upon communication equipment; and refrain from activities which might impair his/
her assigned duties upon call.
706.2 PROCEDURES:
San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Police Department Standby Vehicle Policy
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/10/31, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentPolice Department Standby Vehicle Policy - 2706.2.1 ABSENCES
Should an employee with a Police Department standby vehicle be unable to perform standby
duties, they must return or make arrangements to return the standby vehicle on the next business
day.
706.2.2 PASSENGERS/COMMUTING IN POLICE DEPARTMENT STANDBY VEHICLES
Police Department standby vehicles may be used for carpooling if the employee is transporting
another City employee.
For the purposes of conducting City related business, it may be necessary to transport other
passengers (i.e. suspects, victims, witnesses, work/business related passengers). The need to
transport other persons in a Police Department standby vehicle will be determined on an as
needed basis. Employees will use discretion keeping in mind the safety, practicality and liability
of such transports. Employees should seek supervisor approval prior to transporting others.
Police Department standby vehicles will not be used to transport family members or other
passengers not engaged in City business.
Professional standards of conduct will apply to all occupants of the Police Department standby
vehicle at all times including appropriate use of safety equipment such as seat belts. Each
passenger must have their own seatbelt.
706.2.3 CITATIONS AND VIOLATIONS
An employee who is operating a Police Department standby vehicle is required to pay for moving
violations and/or parking citations incurred when using a vehicle for which he/she is responsible.
706.2.4 COMPLIANCE WITH IRS RULES
As long as Police Department standby vehicles are being used for work related business, Law
Enforcement vehicles are exempt from the Internal Revenue Code requiring that the value of
personal use of a City owned vehicle be reported as taxable income to the employee.
706.2.5 OTHER EMPLOYMENT/ACTIVITIES
Police Department standby vehicles shall not be driven to and from other non-City employment or
for personal activities not related to the scope of the employees expected duties. Employees may
be assigned a Police Department vehicle for unrestricted business use with the understanding that
there be allowed limited personal use within San Luis Obispo County in order to monitor and use
the Police/Emergency service radio and equipment pertinent to the employees duty expectations.
Other personal use may be approved in advance by the Police Chief, excluding vacation and
recreation trips.
706.2.6 PUBLIC PERCEPTION
Use of a Police Department standby vehicle by an employee is neither a right nor a privilege;
rather, it is a trust conferred to facilitate necessary performance of job duties. Use of a Police
Department standby vehicle should always lead to positive perceptions by our citizens. The City's
Code of Ethics states under Section II, Code of Ethics, B.
San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Police Department Standby Vehicle Policy
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/10/31, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentPolice Department Standby