Bradley County committee asks elected officials to review vehicle-marking policies

A Bradley County commission policies committee voted to ask all elected officials to review their policies on county-owned and personally owned vehicles used for county duties and to report those policies back to the committee chair.

The discussion centered on whether county employees who use personal vehicles for official duties should be required to display county markings and on the rules governing county-owned vehicles. Some members said a county cannot compel private vehicle owners to add county logos; others said elected officials typically set and enforce policies for vehicles assigned to their offices. The committee agreed the issue should be left to the relevant elected officials but asked they review and document their policies and return that documentation to the committee within a few months; a suggestion that the end of the year could be an acceptable target was made in the discussion but no formal deadline was adopted in the transcript.

A staff member noted potential IRS implications if employees receive a fringe benefit by using a county vehicle for personal purposes and said elected officials should ensure any personal use is reported or restricted as required. Commissioner Hughes said she had received public calls where residents did not recognize county staff because vehicles were unmarked and described the request as a review rather than an attempt to impose a new countywide rule.

The committee approved the motion by voice vote. The transcript records the motion, a second, and the chair calling for the ayes; individual recorded votes were not included in the transcript.