Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
(A) Policy statement and purpose
Members of the Bowling Green state university (BGSU) community
engage in many activities requiring university-provided transportation. The
university is committed to protecting both the vehicles and especially the
people involved in these activities. Because of the hazards such transportation
activities may involve, the following policy has been adopted by the
university. This policy is applicable to anyone driving a university vehicle
.
University vehicles include all fleet vehicles owned or leased
by the university, as well as any vehicles purchased, leased, or rented by the
university and assigned to individual employees or departments for their
use.
(B) Policy
(1) Allowable use of university vehicles
(a) University vehicles are to be used by
employees, students and approved
university affiliates for official business of the university
only.
(b) Only properly authorized
drivers may drive.
(c) Drivers must
be eighteen years of age or older.
(d) Use of a university fleet vehicle, or
assigned vehicle, while off-duty or on-call is allowable in certain situations
provided there is sound business justification and the use has been authorized
in advance by the appropriate divisional vice president.
(e) University-owned or leased vehicles
provided to individual employees in the course of their employment may be used
for limited personal use. However, monthly driving logs documenting personal
miles must be maintained and provided annually (by November thirtieth) to the
business office for inclusion as a taxable benefit on the employee's W-2
reporting.
(2) Misuse of
university vehicles
(a) Driving a university
vehicle without proper authorization.
(b) Permitting unauthorized persons to
drive.
(c) Driving under a
suspended license.
(d) Engaging in
unsafe practices while driving, including failure to wear a safety belt,
driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, or any practice which
is a distraction.
(e) Falsification
of mileage statements, maintenance records, accident report forms or other
forms relative to use of the vehicle.
(f) Personal use or carrying passengers other
than persons directly involved with the university except with the approval of
the applicable divisional vice president, or as authorized above.
(g) Failure to comply with any law,
regulation, or policy regarding the use of university vehicles, including the
requirement to complete a university approved defensive driver training course
when necessary.
(h) Known transport
of hazardous materials.
(i)
Possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, except by university
police.
(j) Smoking within the
vehicle.
(3)
Authorization
(a) Only drivers with a valid
driver's license may operate a university vehicle.
(b) University-provided vehicles are not to
be used for personal use except as authorized and described above.
(c) All drivers must be
approved per the guidelines outlined by risk management.
(d) Because of the special risks they pose,
drivers of large passenger vans (vans with eight seats or greater) must meet
the requirements set forth in the university's vehicle
use and van driver safety policy.
(e) Commercial drivers must have a current
valid commercial driver's license (CDL) and complete all necessary educational
requirements for those who drive commercial vehicles in Ohio as well as meeting
any federal guidelines regarding education and eligibility standards.
(f) Visitors from other countries
must possess an IDP - international driving permit in addition to holding a
valid license from their country. They must also personally attest to their
driving history if written verification is unobtainable.
(g) Any fines for tickets issued to the
driver including parking tickets are the responsibility of the
driver.
(4) Violations
Misuse of university
vehicles and violations of this policy will be subject to university
disciplinary actions and penalties as contained in the Ohio revised code for
the misuse of state owned or leased vehicles.
