Policy Text
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW NEXT REVIEW
4 01/24/2011 05/01/201 8 05/01/20 20
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS
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706 - Vehicle Use Policy 1 POLICY 706 VEHICLE USE
706.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The Department utilizes city owned motor vehicles in a variety of applications operated by
Department personnel. In order to maintain a system of accountability , and ensure city owned
vehicles are used app ropriately, regulations relating to the use of these vehicles have been
established. The term “city owned” as used in this section also refers to any vehicle leased or
rented by the city.
706.1.1 ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
This section pertains to the follo wing CALEA Standards: (None applicable at this time.)
706.1.2 APPLICATION
This policy does not apply to the Chief of Police or Captains, who are supplied a vehicle pursuant
to a separate contract with the city.
706.2 USE OF VEHICLES
706.2.1 SHIFT ASSIGNED VEHICLES
Personnel assigned to routine ly scheduled field duties shall log onto the in -car computer inputting
required information when going on duty. If the vehicle is not equipped with an in -car co mputer,
they shall notify the Communications Cent er for entry of the vehicle number on to the shift roster.
If the employee exchanges vehicles during the shift, the new vehicle number shall be entered.
The Watch Commander shall ensure that a Shift Roster , indicating personnel assignments and
vehicle numb ers, is completed for each shift and that the information is maintained by
Communications staff in the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.
Employees shall be responsible for inspecting the interior and exterior of any assigned vehicle
before taking the vehicle into service , and again at the conclusion of their shift. 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.
706.2.2 UNSCHEDULED USE OF VEHICLES
Personnel utilizing a vehicle for any purpose other than their normally assigned duties shall first
notify the Watch Commander and Communications of the reasons for use . This section does not
apply to personnel permanentl y assigned to a specific vehicle or group of vehicles (e.g.
detectives, PSD), or to Property and Evidence staff , or others assigned transportation duties to
and from the yard, etc.
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW NEXT REVIEW
4 01/24/2011 05/01/201 8 05/01/20 20
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS
________________
706 - Vehicle Use Policy 2 706.2.3 UNMARKED OR UNDERCOVER VEHICLES
Unmarked units, if not assigned t o an individual employee, sh ould not be used without first
obtaining approval from the respective unit supervisor.
706.2.4 GENERAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT VEHICLES
Any vehicle not assigned to an individual will only be used upon approval of the General
Inves tigations supervisor , the Special Operations Commander, or in his/h er absence, the Watch
Commander .
706.2.5 AUTHORIZED PASSENGERS
Personnel operating department owned vehicles should not permit persons other than City
employees , or persons required to be conveyed in the performance of duty , or as otherwise
authorized , to ride as a passenger in their vehicle.
706.2.6 PARKING
City owned vehicle s with assigned parking areas should be parked in their assigned parking
space. Employees shall not park privatel y owned vehicles in any parking space assigned to a City
owned vehicle , or in other areas of the parking lot not designated as a parking space , unless
authorized by a supervisor. Privately owned motorcycles shall be parked in designated areas.
706.3 ASSIGNED VEHICLE AGREEMENT
City owned vehicles assigned to personnel for their use within their job assignment may be used
to transport the employee to and from their residence for work related purposes. The employee
shall sign an agreement setting the standa rd for how the vehicle shall be used and where it shall
be parked when the employee is not on duty.
The agreement states that the vehicle shall only be used for work -related purposes and shall not
be used for personal errands, or transports, unless specia l circumstances exist and the shift
Watch Commander gives authorization. The agreement also requires the employee be
responsible for the vehicle’s care and coordination of the vehicle’s maintenance schedule with
City Yard.
Management employees with assign ed vehicles are provided reasonable use of the vehicle for
purposes of a personal nature.
Assigned vehicles may be changed at any time and/or permission to take home a vehicle may be
withdrawn at any time.
706.3.1 VEHICLE SUBJECT TO INSPECTION
All city owned vehicles are subject to inspection and/or search at any time by a supervisor and no
employee assigned to or operating such vehicle shall be entitled to any expectations of privacy
with respect to the vehicle or its contents.
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW NEXT REVIEW
4 01/24/2011 05/01/201 8 05/01/20 20
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS
________________
706 - Vehicle Use Policy 3 706.4 SECURITY
Employ ees may take home city owned vehicles only with prior approval from their Division
Commander and shall meet the following criteria:
a) Off-street