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Alamance County board reviews vehicle-replacement policy amid safety and liability concerns
Summary
The board reviewed the county's vehicle-replacement policy (adopted July 2023), including mileage thresholds — 125,000 for patrol/pursuit, 150,000 for cars, 125,000 for trucks/vans and 250,000 for ambulances — with commissioners raising maintenance, resale and vendor-liability questions and directing staff to include vehicle recommendations in the June capital budget.
County staff reviewed Alamance County’s vehicle-replacement policy and a list of vehicles recommended for replacement in the coming fiscal year, prompting questions about thresholds, fleet size and vehicle safety.
Staff said the policy, adopted in July 2023, sets mileage thresholds and gives priority to vehicles that transport the public or that are in poor condition. "Vehicles that are being used to transport the public have another level of liability," staff said, explaining the rotational plan and intent to recoup some funds by selling retired vehicles.
The presentation included the policy’s mileage benchmarks: patrol and pursuit vehicles are considered for replacement once they reach 125,000 miles; ambulances are prioritized at 250,000 miles; trucks and vans at 125,000; and general-use cars at 150,000 miles. Staff also noted vehicles older than 10 years receive replacement priority.
Commissioners and members of the public raised safety concerns for emergency vehicles, noting instances where older vehicles have failed en route to calls. One commissioner recounted a prior pursuit in which a patrol vehicle’s frame separated mid‑pursuit and a deputy was seriously injured; that commissioner said investigators found the maintenance vendor had not lubricated joints properly. County staff said they will consult the county’s insurance carrier and the vendor contract terms; the county’s staff attorney indicated vendor agreements typically include indemnification provisions but said she would verify specifics.
Staff reported an inventory count for law enforcement: the sheriff's office has about 210 assigned vehicles and the detention center about 20. The board discussed donating or reallocating surplus vehicles under state statute (for example, to Alamance Community College for training) and noted some county vehicles have been reassigned internally to parks and maintenance or given to DSS for transport duties.
Several commissioners argued that vehicle-replacement decisions should remain at the managerial level but that the board should be advised of significant fiscal impacts. A commissioner moved to have the county manager oversee vehicle-replacement decisions in consultation with the sheriff and to vacate a prior commissioner-level mandate, while staff confirmed that vehicle recommendations will be included in the capital funding package the board will consider in June.
Next steps: staff will obtain requested fiscal and safety analyses, consult the insurance carrier about liability and vendor standards, and include vehicle replacements (and any recommended policy changes) in the capital budget for board action in June.
