Insurance changes push review of take-home vehicles; police chief explains operational tradeoffs

Lynn Haven — The City Commission heard from Police Chief Rainey and public-works staff about fleet operations and the evolving insurance rules that are prompting a review of the citys take-home vehicle policies.

Chief Rainey said insurance carriers are pressing municipalities to restrict liability exposure by requiring employees who take emergency vehicles home to carry additional non-owner insurance and said insurers may reduce coverage limits for commutes. “This year, the insurance company will be reducing the coverage to what's called statutory caps … they are also going to require any of the employees that have been designated to take an emergency vehicle home to cover what's called a non-owner insurance coverage,” Rainey said.

Rainey told commissioners several operational reasons police vehicles are currently taken home: marked patrol cars function as a visible deterrent in neighborhoods, serve as a mobile dispatch platform with equipment and modems tied to individual vehicles, and allow officers to respond quickly to city and county calls. He warned that centralizing vehicles at the station or hot‑seating cars (multiple officers using the same car on different shifts) would increase wear and could reduce the useful life of vehicles and response readiness.

Commissioners asked about tracking of fuel and maintenance; staff said the city uses a fuel-management system where employees scan a fob tied to the vehicle and employee number, and accounting charges fuel to the proper account monthly. Public-works staff said fleet work has about a $45,000 request for a bridge crane and fuel-pump replacements to support larger trucks and fire apparatus maintenance.

No formal policy change was adopted at the workshop. Chief Rainey said the city will require employees who take vehicles home to carry the insurance carriers now expect, and staff will continue evaluating operational and cost impacts of any broader policy changes.