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Richland County committee adopts countywide vehicle-use policy with insurance and hands-free rules
Summary
The Human and Public Works Standing Committee approved a countywide vehicle-use policy clarifying employee responsibilities, insurance verification, hands-free use and departmental discretion for reasonable personal stops.
The Richland County Human and Public Works Standing Committee approved a countywide vehicle‑use policy that sets rules for employee use of county vehicles, requires proof of insurability, and allows hands‑free phone use while driving.
Josh, a county staff member who worked on the policy, said the draft was developed with the county attorney and department heads. The committee retained a clarification allowing hands‑free devices while driving to avoid handheld phone use. The policy requires employees to provide proof of personal auto insurance to their department so supervisors can verify that employees are insurable before they are assigned county vehicles.
Committee members asked how the county’s insurance interacts with personal insurance. A member asked, “Our county insurance will not cover if they're driving?” and staff responded that the county insurance does provide coverage while on county business but that requiring proof of personal insurance lets the county confirm an employee is insurable and not a demonstrated poor driver before assigning expensive equipment.
The group discussed reasonable personal deviations while using county vehicles. A committee member asked whether an employee could drop off a child at school en route to work; the chair and staff said minor detours within reason would be allowed at departmental discretion, but extended personal errands (for example, long out‑of‑area trips to a different school district) would not be permitted. The policy gives department heads discretion to determine what is reasonable.
Members also discussed tracking and accountability: GPS units are installed on some heavy trucks but not on pickup trucks, and mileage sheets are submitted so supervisors can spot anomalous mileage. Several members said the main goal was to put consistent expectations in writing and to be able to revise the policy if it does not work in practice.
After brief discussion, the committee moved, seconded and approved the policy by voice vote. Members noted the policy can be reviewed and revised as needed.
