801 – Use of County-Owned Vehicles

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I. Purpose

This policy sets guidelines for Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) employees’ assignment, use, and maintenance of county-owned vehicles.

II. Definitions

Authorized Vehicle Use: For employees who have been assigned a county-owned vehicle on either a temporary or permanent basis, authorized use of that vehicle means one or more of the following:

  • Any lawful use during the employee’s scheduled tour of duty,
    • Travel to and from work and home or car-share partner’s residence,
    • Use while on scheduled call-out duty,
    • Use in response to a supervisor’s order to duty, or
    • Use not defined above that advances the mission of HCSO.

    County-Owned Vehicle: A vehicle owned or leased by Harris County or any Harris County agencies or departments.

    Fleet Management Division (Fleet Management): The division within HCSO responsible for the administrative management of all vehicles placed under HCSO’s control by Harris County.

    Fleet Management Information System (Fleetio): The electronic program or application authorized for operators to complete regular inspections of county vehicles. It may take the form of a downloadable application or may be done through a county computer system. This will be administered by Fleet Management and is currently the “Fleetio” system.

    Fleet Manager: The HCSO supervisor responsible for overseeing Fleet Management operations.

    Harris County Fleet Services Division (Fleet Services): The division within Harris County Universal Services responsible for the provision, repair, and maintenance of HCSO vehicles as well as any related mechanical and technical support. They normally render their services at the designated Harris County Vehicle Maintenance Centers (VMCs).

    Home Address: The place where an employee lives on a permanent basis. Employees may not have more than one home address.

    Marked Vehicle: A vehicle clearly identifiable to the average person through paint, HCSO logos, exposed emergency equipment, or similar characteristics as being linked with HCSO.

    Primary Duty Post: The location where an employee is expected to perform their regular duties for HCSO. For some employees, this is a specific building; for others, this is a specific geographic area of responsibility in which they conduct their duties. For all employees, the primary duty post shall be defined by their supervisor or written directive.

    Unmarked Vehicle: A vehicle without any exposed HCSO logos or emergency equipment that is not clearly identifiable to the average person as being linked with HCSO.

III. Policy

HCSO recognizes that vehicles are important tools that enhance the ability of its employees to carry out their duties to the residents of Harris County. The following procedures are intended to ensure that HCSO employees are responsible stewards of both public trust and the financial investment into public safety that vehicles represent.

IV. Procedure

Violation of this policy may subject an employee to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

  1. Assignment
    1. General Provisions
      1. Fleet Management is responsible for assigning county-owned vehicles to organizational units throughout HCSO.
      2. Once a vehicle has been assigned by Fleet Management, the organizational unit to which it was assigned is responsible for the vehicle’s maintenance and use in accordance with this policy.
      3. Vehicles may be assigned to specific employees or kept for general use of the operational unit at the discretion of Fleet Management or unit leadership.
      4. No employee is entitled to use a vehicle based solely on the position to which they are assigned.
      5. The Sheriff or their designee has the ultimate authority to assign vehicles for employee use.
    2. Take-Home Vehicles

      All decisions regarding take-home vehicle authorization and assignment are made by the chief deputy or their designee. The fleet manager is responsible for making recommendations on take-home vehicle authorization and assignment.

      1. Prior to making a recommendation, the fleet manager shall consider the following factors:
        1. Documented operational necessity,
        2. Available resources,
        3. Advancement of HCSO goals and objectives, and
        4. Any requests or requirements made by the relevant bureau commander.
      2. After considering the above factors, the fleet manager shall submit to the chief deputy or their designee a list of employees they recommend for take-home vehicle authorization and assignment.
      3. At their discretion, the fleet manager may delegate these recommendation decisions to a bureau commander or other authority of equivalent or greater rank.

        Note: For those employees who are not assigned to bureaus, the fleet manager may delegate a recommendation decision to the director or commander of that employee’s unit. The ultimate decision on whether to accept any recommendation shall remain with the chief deputy or their designee.

      4. All documentation relating to take-home vehicle assignments shall be maintained by the fleet manager or their designee.
    3. Loaner Vehicles

      Loaner vehicles are utilized as a temporary, supplemental resource for a unit or an employee when an employee’s assigned vehicle is out of service.

      1. Loaner vehicles shall be assigned by Fleet Management or may be provided to organizational units for use by those units.
      2. An employee authorized to use a take-home vehicle may be able to utilize the loaner as a take-home vehicle at the discretion of Fleet Management or the unit to which the vehicle is assigned.
      3. Loaner vehicles, keys, and remote fobs shall be maintained by Fleet Management or the unit to which they have assigned the loaner vehicle.
      4. Procedures for utilizing a loaner vehicle will be determined by Fleet Management or by the unit assigned the vehicle by them, subject to Fleet Management’s approval. Any operator of a loaner vehicle shall abide by these procedures.

        Note: An employee operating a loaner vehicle is responsible for that loaner vehicle’s maintenance and care in the same way they would be responsible for a vehicle permanently assigned to them.

  2. Use
    1. Operation
      1. At all times while operating a vehicle, an HCSO employee shall possess a valid and current Texas driver’s license and make a good-faith effort to comply with all applicable traffic laws.
      2. Seat Belts

        At all times while an HCSO-assigned vehicle assigned by HCSO is in motion, the driver and all passengers — including prisoners where relevant — shall properly wear their seatbelts.

      3. At no time shall an HCSO employee allow an unauthorized person to operate a county-owned vehicle or possess the keys to such a vehicle.
      4. Marked vehicles shall only be operated by HCSO deputies or detention officers in full uniform.
      5. Authorized Passengers

        An employee authorized to operate a county-owned vehicle shall only allow the following passengers in that vehicle:

        1. HCSO employees,
        2. Prisoners or other persons required to be conveyed in the performance of the employee’s duties, or
        3. Any other passenger authorized by a supervisor.
      6. Employees shall not use county-owned vehicles outside Harris County except when conducting official HCSO business.
      7. Employees who are off-duty for more than nine consecutively scheduled workdays for any reason shall coordinate with fleet management for the placement of their county-owned vehicle until their return to regular active duty.
      8. Employees may not use their county-owned vehicles while on sick leave except when specifically authorized by a supervisor.
      9. Employees shall not smoke, vape, or use tobacco inside county-owned vehicles.
      10. Distracted Driving

        Nationwide surveys have shown that the main causes of crashes and deaths linked to police officers while driving are excess speed (No. 1 cause) and distractions (No. 2 cause). When both of these occur simultaneously, driving becomes an unjustifiable danger to both the HCSO employee and the public in general.

      11. HCSO employees are prohibited from utilizing a wireless communications device while operating a motor vehicle in violation of Section 545 of the Texas Transportation Code.
      12. HCSO employees shall operate motor vehicles safely and legally while utilizing any electronic devices in the course of their duties, including while operating any MDT assigned to a vehicle.
      13. High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes and Toll Express Lanes
        1. HOV Lanes

          The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) permits on-duty peace officers in county-owned vehicles (marked or unmarked) to use the HOV ONLY lane during normal hours of operation.

      14. All on-duty deputies in county-owned vehicles shall use the HOV ONLY lane at the toll site.
      15. Prior notification to METRO is not required. However, deputies in unmarked vehicles should be prepared to provide identification when entering or using HOV lanes.
        1. Toll Only

          These lanes charge tolls for single or below minimum required occupancy during specific time periods.

          NOTE: The EZTags issued by the Harris County Toll Road Authority for county-owned vehicles are not compatible with METRO’s TOLL ONLY lanes; therefore, these lanes shall not be utilized.

    2. Storage
      1. General Provisions
        1. Unless specifically authorized in writing, an employee not authorized for a take-home vehicle shall store their assigned vehicle in an appropriate location at their primary duty post.
        2. No employee shall park county-owned vehicles at locations other than their primary duty post and then continue their daily commute in order to circumvent the intent of this policy except:
      2. In lieu of the employee’s primary duty post, the employee’s bureau commander may authorize the employee to store their county-owned vehicle at a secure government facility that is staffed and monitored on a 24-hour basis, and,
      3. The employee must obtain written authorization from the government entity operating the facility and submit that authorization along with a letter of request to their bureau commander.
      4. An employee’s bureau commander shall consider whether a requested location other than an employee’s primary duty post is appropriate and properly secure before approving or denying that request.
        1. Those vehicles kept for general use by an operational unit shall — unless they are authorized for use as take-home vehicles — be stored when not in use at an appropriate location where the unit’s employees are assigned. This may be the unit’s primary duty post.
      5. Take-Home Vehicles

        Take-home vehicles may be stored at an employee’s home address, when either:

        1. The employee’s home address is within Harris County, or
        2. The employee’s home address is outside of Harris County but has been specifically authorized as a storage location.

          Note: The fleet manager reserves the right to make the final determination of any storage location for take-home vehicles and may do so using all relevant evidence, including but not limited to addresses listed on an employee’s driver’s license, voter registration rolls, property tax rolls, and homestead exemption.

      6. Official HCSO Parking Placards

        The following procedures shall be adhered to by all employees regarding usage of official HCSO parking placards:

        1. Employees operating unmarked county-owned vehicles who need to park at metered spaces while engaged in the performance of officially assigned duties shall indicate their status by placing the parking placard on their vehicle’s dashboard.
        2. At no time shall a county-owned vehicle be parked in “No Parking” red zones, handicap-accessible zones, or other non-parking zones unless the employee operating the vehicle is responding to an emergency.
        3. Parking placards shall only be issued by Fleet Management and are specifically issued to the county-owned vehicle, not to the individual employee. Each parking placard must remain with its assigned vehicle at all times.
        4. Parking placards display the HCSO badge, the Harris County seal, and a special issued hologram seal of the City of Houston. Parking placards also display the year, make, model, and — unless the vehicle is leased — the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle to which the parking placard is assigned.
        5. Damaged parking placards shall be returned to the Fleet Services section for replacement.
        6. Only parking placards issued by Fleet Management shall be utilized under this policy.
        7. Personnel shall not use other parking placards, department credentials, or other methods of identification in county or personal vehicles for the purpose of parking in metered spaces under this policy.
        8. HCSO parking placards shall not be used in personal vehicles under any circumstances.
        9. Any employee found using an alternative parking placard or other means of identification in county or personal vehicles in violation of this policy may be subject to disciplinary action.

          Note: HCSO patrol units shall monitor for improper use of parking placards and other improper use of department credentials in vehicles and take the appropriate action to enforce compliance.

      7. Parking Citations

        The following procedures shall be adhered to by all employees regarding the dismissal of parking citations while parked at a metered parking space while conducting official county business.

        1. If a county vehicle receives a citation for a parking meter violation while the employee is in the performance of official county business, the employee may request for the citation to be dismissed.
        2. The following procedures shall be followed for citation dismissal:
      8. The employee shall complete all appropriate sections of the “Request for Parking Citation Dismissal Affidavit” and “Affidavit of Harris County Sheriff for Limited Purpose of Parking Citation Dismissal.”
      9. Upon completion of the “Request for Parking Citation Dismissal Affidavit,” the employee shall have the document notarized by a notary public.
      10. Both affidavits, along with a cover letter detailing the circumstances under which the citation was issued, shall be sent through the employee’s chain of the command to the employee’s bureau commander within 48 hours of receiving the citation.
    3. Upon receiving both affidavits, the bureau commander shall forward the documents via memorandum to the Fleet Management section.
    4. This memorandum shall be signed by the bureau commander and include a synopsis of the circumstances by which the citation was issued.
    5. The bureau commander’s signature is a validation to the Sheriff that the information is accurate, and that the dismissal is justified.
      1. Fleet Management shall coordinate with the Sheriff for signature and dismissal of the citation.
      2. If approved, the Sheriff shall sign the “Affidavit of Harris County Sheriff for Limited Purpose of Parking Citation Dismissal” certifying the employee was on official county business. Only the Sheriff may sign the affidavit for dismissal.
      3. Fleet Management has 45 calendar days from the date the citation was issued to submit completed documentation to the municipal court for citation dismissal.
        1. If the municipality that issued the citation rejects the request for its dismissal, the employee assigned to the vehicle that received the citation will be responsible for resolving the citation through payment of the fine or other requirement of the municipal court.
        2. Failure to resolve any parking citation issued to county-owned vehicle properly may result in disciplinary action and revocation of county vehicle privileges.
    6. Extra Jobs
      1. Without written authorization and approval of the bureau commander, employees shall not use county-owned vehicles:
        1. In the performance of any extra employment, or
        2. For transportation to and from any extra employment.
      2. Any authorization and approval are limited to the specific extra employment job contained within the written request.

        Example: An employee requests the use of a county-owned vehicle for an extra employment job on the way home from work and receives approval. The approval is for that specific job and circumstance only.

        Note: Such authorization and approval shall remain in effect for one year, and the employee must submit an annual request for approval beginning the first business day of the new year.

    7. Fuel Cards
      1. Each vehicle is issued a fuel card for access to designated fuel pumps, and the employee to whom the vehicle is assigned shall be accountable for dispensed fuel by an identifying account and personal identification number.
        1. Fuel cards are authorized for fuel purchases only. Any other use is considered misuse and is strictly prohibited.
      2. Only regular unleaded fuel is authorized for use in county-owned vehicles. Other grades of fuel are prohibited unless Fleet Management otherwise specifies.
      3. The purchase of diesel fuel is authorized for those vehicles requiring diesel.
        1. Any misuse or abuse of the fuel facility may result in disciplinary action.
      4. Fuel cards shall be dispensed through Fleet Management.
      5. Lost or Stolen Cards

        In the event the fuel card is lost or stolen, such loss shall be reported immediately by the operator or employee discovering the loss (within 24 hours) to the appropriate bureau commander through the chain of command with an incident report detailing the circumstances leading to such loss. Additionally, the employee must notify the Harris County VMC of the loss and report case number.

      6. Damaged or inoperative cards: All damaged or inoperative cards will be returned to Fleet Management for a new card to be issued.
      7. Personal identification number (PIN) issuance: An account and PIN will be issued to each HCSO employee authorized to purchase fuel at county expense.
      8. A copy of the pump operating procedures and station locations may be obtained from the Harris County VMC.
    8. Take-Home Cars for Employees Who Live Outside Harris County

      The following procedures apply to any employee who resides outside Harris County and has been authorized a take-home vehicle in accordance with this policy:

      1. Commute Affidavit:
        1. Each relevant HCSO employee shall complete and sign a commute affidavit that establishes the employee’s home address and the travel distance from that address to the Harris County line. This form is available on the Intranet and will be submitted to, and maintained by, Fleet Management.

          Note: Mileage should be determined by vehicle odometer reading and will be verified for reasonableness using Google Maps.

          If an employee has been authorized to store their vehicle at a location that is neither their primary duty post nor their home address, then travel distance from that authorized location to the Harris County line shall be used.

        2. Reporting Requirement

          If the distance between the employee’s home address or authorized alternative location and the county line is greater than 25 miles, the employee must complete Harris County Auditor’s Form 775C, “Excess Commuting Mileage Reimbursement Form,” on a monthly basis and submit reimbursement for excess mileage.

        3. Reporting Exclusion

          If the distance between the employee’s home address or authorized alternative location and the county line is 25 miles or less, the employee is still required to complete and sign the commute affidavit but is not required to perform any further reporting.

          Note: On-call status does not exempt an employee from any aspect of this policy.

        4. Mandatory Update

          Any employee who is assigned a take-home vehicle and changes their home address or is authorized to park their take-home vehicle at a new alternative location must complete, sign, and submit an updated commute affidavit within seven calendar days of the change.

        5. Document Accuracy and Timeliness

          Employees who falsify information on the commute affidavit or Harris County Auditor’s Form 775C or fail to submit changes within the given deadline will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and potentially including termination.

      2. Reporting Excess Mileage:

        Each HCSO employee who is assigned a take-home vehicle and whose commute affidavit shows a distance greater than 25 miles between their home address or authorized alternative location and the Harris County line must complete Harris County Auditor’s Form 775C, “Excess Commuting Mileage Reimbursement Form,” on a monthly basis and submit reimbursement via cash, check, or money order to the HCSO Finance Division.

        1. Deadline

          Reimbursement forms and payments must be submitted no later than three business days following the end of a calendar month for the prior month of commute activity.

        2. Reimbursement Rate

          The current Internal Revenue Service (IRS) standard mileage rate ($0.70 per mile) shall be used to calculate excess mileage reimbursement.

          Example: An employee’s commute for the day (round trip distance to and from the Harris County line) is a total of 58 miles. The reimbursement due for that day is the excess miles (8) × $0.70 = $5.60.

  3. Maintenance
    1. General Provisions
      1. All county-owned vehicles shall be maintained in a manner that reflects the pride and professionalism of the agency. Proper vehicle care, cleanliness, and maintenance are significant factors contributing to safety and crash prevention. Each employee operating a county-owned vehicle is responsible for ensuring that the maintenance cycle is adhered to and that the cleanliness maintained.
      2. This policy is intended to increase the safety of the vehicle operators and the general public and to increase the operational life cycle of the vehicles. Vehicles working in a law enforcement capacity experience harsher operating conditions than normal automobiles. Additionally, these vehicles are expected to function at a higher degree of performance in sometimes dangerous conditions. As such, proper preventive and corrective maintenance is critical and should be the responsibility of every employee.
    2. Inspections
      1. Daily Inspections

        Daily, prior to the start of each shift, each vehicle operator shall complete a safety inspection and inventory of the vehicle. The purpose of this inspection is to ensure that all equipment is in proper working order and to identify any discrepancies before they become safety issues.

        The following list identifies the minimum areas and components to be inspected:

        1. Exterior
      2. Body, paint, and graphics
      3. Tires and wheels
      4. Glass
      5. Antennas
      6. Visual fluid leaks under or around vehicle
      7. Registration sticker
      8. License plates (front and rear)
        1. Interior
      9. Cleanliness
      10. Under the front and rear seats
      11. Fuel card
      12. Prisoner partition
      13. Radar tuning forks
      14. Issued computer screen cleaning cloth
      15. Rear door locks and windows deactivated
      16. Check for weapons and contraband
        1. Front and rear seat belts
      17. Shotgun rack (if applicable)
      18. Wires hanging under dashboard
        1. Trunk
      19. Spare tire, jack, and tools
      20. Flares
      21. Fire extinguisher
      22. First aid kit (if applicable)
      23. Stop sticks (if applicable)
      24. Exposed wires
        1. Mechanical
      25. Warning indicator lights
    3. If a warning indicator light other than “door ajar,” “trunk open,” or “low washer fluid,” is illuminated, the vehicle should be downed until serviced at HCSO-approved maintenance facilities.
    4. In the case of a “low tire pressure” warning indicator, the tires’ pressure should be checked and filled if low.
    5. In the event of a “check engine” indicator, the fuel cap should be checked for proper tightness. If either of these procedures causes the indicator to turn off, the vehicle is not required to be downed for service.

      Note: Always shut down the vehicle’s engine when fueling the vehicle. Failure to do so is not only a safety hazard, but it may also cause a “check engine” warning indicator.

      1. Lights (headlights and taillights)
      2. Turn signals
      3. Windshield wipers
      4. Low fluid levels will normally be indicated by warning lights. Regardless, the operator should visually check fluid levels each time the vehicle is fueled.
    6. If low fluid levels are discovered, the vehicle operator shall replenish the fluids to normal operational levels. Fluids will be distributed to the patrol districts and available to operators for this purpose.
    7. If the low levels are attributed to a persistent leak, the vehicle will be downed until serviced at a HCSO-approved maintenance facility.
      1. Equipment
        1. Communications equipment and radio
        2. MDT
    8. The MDT shall be kept clean from dirt and grime. Due to the sensitivity of the LCD computer screen only the issued screen cleaning cloth may be used. Only alcohol shall be used to remove the dirt and grime from the computer body and keyboard.
    9. At no time shall an MDT be moved between vehicles or repurposed unless approved by HCSO’s Information Technology Mobile Laptop Support personnel.
      1. Mobile printer
      2. Driver’s license swipe reader
      3. Emergency lights
      4. Siren and public address components
      5. Automatic vehicle locator (AVL)
      6. Radar components
        1. In-car camera system

          This section pertains to all bureaus with assigned vehicles containing in-car camera systems and other electronic systems, including but not limited to MDTs, radar/LIDAR, or other systems to be utilized in the performance of the operator’s duties.

          At the beginning of each shift, each HCSO employee with a vehicle equipped with an in-car camera system or other electronic systems shall properly log on or activate the systems per their training. After signing on, each such employee shall:

    10. Conduct any required tests of the systems to ensure the systems are working properly.
    11. If any part of a vehicle equipment electronic system is found to be malfunctioning, the HCSO employee is required to notify their on-duty supervisor immediately and to contact the Harris County Help Desk, Mobile Laptop Support, or the unit that regulates and repairs the system to ensure any malfunction is corrected or repaired promptly.

      Note: During the operation of the vehicle, the HCSO employee shall maintain all car electronic systems in working order and shall NOT do anything to disable, obscure, or cause these systems to cease operation. Any action intentionally made to impair the operation of assigned vehicle electronic systems shall be subject to discipline, including possible termination.

      1. Additional Equipment

        No additional equipment may be installed on or in county-owned vehicles without written authorization from Fleet Services.

        If additional equipment is authorized, Fleet Services will oversee the installation of all additional equipment.

        1. Monthly Inspections

          Beyond the daily inspections outlined above, all county-owned vehicles shall be inspected every 30 days between the first and the seventh day of each month, or when there is a car-share change. The results of this inspection shall be documented in Fleetio.

          The unit commander or their designee is responsible for ensuring these inspections are completed properly.

      2. These monthly inspections shall be submitted to Fleet Management through Fleetio.
      3. The goal of these inspections is to regularly document the vehicle’s condition and ensure policy compliance with this policy.
      4. Deficiencies discovered during these inspections shall be documented in Fleetio.
      5. Supervisors of employees who are assigned vehicles shall check to see employees in their span of control are submitting their inspections.
        1. Inspections During Servicing

          Fleet Services personnel shall inspect all vehicles for condition and adherence to this policy whenever service is performed.

      6. All deficiencies pertaining to cleanliness and abuse will be noted and documentation forwarded to Fleet Management.
      7. Fleet Services may decline to service a vehicle until the vehicle’s condition satisfies this policy.
    12. Preventive Maintenance
      1. Each county-owned vehicle shall be placed on a preventive maintenance schedule as prescribed by Fleet Services. Every vehicle operator has the responsibility to ensure that the schedule is followed.
      2. Each vehicle will have a service sticker placed on the driver’s side of the windshield. This sticker will indicate the next service time for the vehicle. Although servicing of the vehicle at the exact interval indicated may not be possible, it shall not exceed the limit marked on the maintenance tag and shall be performed:
        1. not before 1,000 miles of the service mileage limit, but at least every 6,000 miles, or
        2. before the service date on the windshield sticker, whichever comes first.

          Note: In the event of an unreadable or missing sticker, the operator shall contact a Harris County VMC to verify service date or mileage.

    13. Malfunctions and Repairs
      1. A vehicle operator who identifies a malfunction or need for repair relating to the vehicle or any of its components shall immediately notify their supervisor. Either the operator or their supervisor shall notify Fleet Services of the issue as soon as possible.
      2. If either the operator or the supervisor determines that continued operation of the vehicle causes an unsafe environment for the driver or the public, the vehicle will be downed for service until it is repaired.
      3. All vehicles with mechanical problems requiring towing should be towed to a Harris County VMC.
    14. Vehicle Cleanliness

      The interior and exterior cleanliness of county-owned vehicles is a concern for reasons of sanitation, safety, and professionalism. County-owned vehicles shall be maintained in a clean condition free from filth, food, and clutter and in accordance with the provisions below.

      1. Interior
        1. Food

          The vehicle shall be free from leftover food and food not in a sealed container. All leftover food shall be disposed of properly.

        2. Loose Papers and Trash

          All loose papers and trash shall be removed at the end of every shift and before any type of service is performed on a vehicle or components.

        3. Excessive Dirt

          While it is understandable that vehicles will become dirty, every effort should be made to limit the extent. When conditions exist, such as caked-on mud, the operator shall clean the vehicle at the earliest reasonable opportunity and before any service is performed on the vehicle or components.

        4. Spills and Stains

          Spills and stains shall be cleaned at the first opportunity. Every effort shall be made to remove any residue from the spilled material and reduce staining.

        5. Mold and Mildew

          Due to the humidity, mold and mildew has a tendency to form between the front seats and the prisoner partition. Mold and mildew represent a health hazard and, as such, this area shall be regularly checked and wiped down with a towel and cleaner.

        6. Loose Articles

          Loose articles in a vehicle become projectiles during collisions and sudden stops. Operators are prohibited from placing non-secured items in the passenger compartment. If an external keyboard or mouse is utilized by the vehicle operator, they shall be secured when not in use.

        7. Airbag Zone

          Airbags detonate with more than 1200 pounds of force at speeds that can exceed 230 miles per hour. As such, any item in the airbag zone becomes a deadly projectile. Operators are prohibited from placing or mounting any item that falls inside of the airbag zone or attaching anything to the dashboard of the vehicle.

      2. Exterior
        1. Stickers

          Only HCSO-approved stickers shall be affixed to any county-owned vehicle.

        2. Road Grime and Dirt

          All excessive dirt on the vehicle exterior, including on the emergency equipment, shall be cleaned at the earliest reasonable opportunity.

References

Tex. Transp. Code § 545

Revision

This policy has been revised on the below listed dates:

August 3, 2009
August 25, 2010
February 8, 2011
January 24, 2012
March 8, 2012
June 7, 2012
April 9, 2014

May 27, 2014
June 24, 2014
February 19, 2015

February 25, 2015
August 6, 2015
October 9, 2017
March 9, 2020
December 19, 2025

February 6, 2026

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