news4u2day
Member
All my guys have take home cars. Most (9) are 06 and 07 Explorers that get 13-15 mpg and the rest are Escapes that don't get much better. Everyone uses the vehicles for personal use and now that fuel is over $3.00, they are using the take home car more for personal reasons. This has become a "hot button" with the business manager when they saw one of my photogs with a bike carrier on his unmarked vehicle at one of the local parks! Personal mileage for the most part has never been enforced, going one on one with someone who abused the privilege. Until the last three years, we did not even keep up with the fuel charges we made. Now, I will be required to draft a comprehensive policy on the issue. The other related problem is driving family members in company vehicles. They have been allowed to take family members to school, games, etc. Several of the photogs have child car seats in the vehicle. That one is easy by banning all passengers except station employees. But I am looking for feedback on the personal mileage. I don't have a problem if they stop at the grocery store or gym on their way home but where do you draw the line? Does anyone have a written policy already in place? One of the other stations in town made all their photogs sign agreements that they only drive company vehicles to and from work. Also where does tax libility for the personal mileage fall. I prefer to have the cars out in the coverage area rather than parked downtown when their is breaking news. But I can not win the battle with the bean counters unless I get cooperation from the photos.