O’Scanlon Bill Takes Keys Away from Officials Using Municipal Cars for Personal Transportation

Senator Declan O’Scanlon’s bill to prohibit municipal officials from using township vehicles for private purposes was approved today by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.

Under the legislation (S206), government-owned cars will have to be parked at the end of the business day, and cannot be used for private errands or commuting to and from home.

“No part-time elected officials should be using publicly owned vehicles. It’s as simple as that,” said O’Scanlon (R-13). “Too many local officials treat government cars as their own personal property, an unofficial perk of the job. That’s not fair to taxpayers. My bill will take away the keys and put an end to the practice.”

The bill applies to anyone elected to office of a local government agency; serving on a local agency which has the authority to enact ordinances or grant zoning variances; who is a member of an independent municipal, county or regional authority; or who is an executive employee of a local government agency.

“It’s a simple concept. Publicly owned cars are for government business, not for picking up groceries and taking the kids to practice,” O’Scanlon added.