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Policy 703Santa Ana Police Department Santa Ana PD Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/02/26, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Santa Ana Police DepartmentVehicle Use - 1Vehicle Use 703.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The purpose of this policy is to establish a system of accountability to ensure department vehicles are used appropriately. This policy provides guidelines for on- and off-duty use of department vehicles and shall not be construed to create or imply any contractual obligation by the City of Santa Ana to provide assigned take-home vehicles. Additional guidelines for member responsibilities when transporting persons in custody may be found in the Transporting Persons in Custody Policy. 703.2 POLICY The Santa Ana Police Department provides vehicles for department-related business and may assign patrol and unmarked vehicles based on a determination of operational efficiency, economic impact to the Department, requirements for tactical deployments and other considerations. 703.3 USE OF VEHICLES 703.3.1 FIELD OPERATIONS ASSIGNED VEHICLE PROGRAM All patrol officers shall have a vehicle assigned to them. In the event his/her assigned vehicle is unavailable, the officers shall utilize a pool patrol car. In the event no pool patrol cars are available, the officer shall contact the Watch Commander for approval to drive another officer's assigned patrol vehicle. For further details refer to the Field Operations Assigned Vehicle Program Procedure. 703.3.2 OTHER USE OF VEHICLES Members utilizing a vehicle for any purpose other than their normally assigned duties or normal vehicle assignment (e.g., transportation to training, community event) shall first notify the Watch Commander. A notation will be made on the shift assignment roster indicating the member’s name, badge # and vehicle number. This subsection does not apply to those who are assigned to vehicle transportation duties to and from the maintenance yard or carwash. 703.3.3 INSPECTIONS Members shall be responsible for inspecting the interior and exterior of any assigned vehicle before taking the vehicle into service and at the conclusion of their shifts. Any previously unreported damage, mechanical problems, unauthorized contents, or other problems with the vehicle shall be promptly reported to a supervisor and documented as appropriate. The interior of any vehicle that has been used to transport any person other than a member of this department should be inspected prior to placing another person in the vehicle and again after the person is removed. This is to ensure that unauthorized or personal items have not been left in the vehicle. Santa Ana Police Department Santa Ana PD Policy Manual Vehicle Use Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/02/26, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Santa Ana Police DepartmentVehicle Use - 2All department vehicles are subject to inspection and/or search at any time by a supervisor without notice and without cause. No member assigned to or operating such vehicle shall be entitled to any expectation of privacy with respect to the vehicle or its contents. 703.3.4 SECURITY AND UNATTENDED VEHICLES Unattended vehicles should be locked and secured at all times. No key should be left in the vehicle except when it is necessary that the vehicle be left running (e.g., continued activation of emergency lights, canine safety, equipment charging). Officers who exit a vehicle rapidly in an emergency situation or to engage in a foot pursuit must carefully balance the need to exit the vehicle quickly with the need to secure the vehicle. Members shall ensure all weapons are secured while the vehicle is unattended. 703.3.5 MDC Members assigned to vehicles equipped with a Mobile Data Computer (MDC) shall log onto the MDC with the required information when going on-duty. If the vehicle is not equipped with a working MDC, the member shall notify Communications Division. Use of the MDC is governed by the Mobile Data Computer Use Policy. 703.3.6 AUTOMATED VEHICLE LOCATOR SYSTEM (AVL) Patrol and other vehicles, at the discretion of the Chief of Police, may be equipped with a system designed to track the vehicle’s location. While the system may provide vehicle location and other information, members are not relieved of their responsibility to use required communication practices to report their location and status. Members shall not make any unauthorized modifications to the system. At the start of each shift, members shall verify the system is on and report any malfunctions to their supervisor. If the member finds the system is not functioning properly at any time during the shift, he/she should exchange the vehicle for one with a working system, if available. Communications personnel are authorized to utilize AVL information to select and dispatch a unit to a call for service based on their location. Additionally, Communications personnel are authorized to utilize AVL information to locate field personnel involved in an emergency or perceived emergency situations including, but not limited to, pursuits, emergency button activations, or a lack of response to radio transmissions. Communications personnel shall verify that all in-service personnel with AVL Systems are displayed on the AVL screen in Communications and/or the Computer Aided Dispatch System, and shall notify any unit when their AVL System is not properly functioning. Notification of the failure shall also be made to the user’s immediate supervisor so appropriate action can be taken. AVL database information may only be accessed and subsequently reviewed by employees participating in a departmental sanctioned investigation, such as a personnel complaint, claims investigation, administrative inquiry or criminal investigation. Any other review requires the express approval of the Chief of Police or his designee. Santa Ana Police Department Santa Ana PD Policy Manual Vehicle Use Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/02/26, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Santa