Attention: Important Information for Officers with Take-Home Vehicles

Recently [June 6, 2007], the Fourth District of Appeal issued a decision about liability when take-home vehicles are involved in traffic crashes. The decision involved a sergeant from City of Hollywood who was driving to work and had a traffic crash with a pedestrian on his way into work. The sergeant was in his assigned take-home vehicle, in uniform and going to work. He was not on-duty. The City moved for summary judgment in the lawsuit claiming the sergeant was not acting within the scope or course of employment and thus, it was not liable (obviously leaving the sergeant on the hook). The Court agreed finding that City was not liable in the case because the sergeant was not acting with scope or course of employment at the time of the crash.

We advise all of our members to check with their personal insurance carrier and make sure their personal automobile insurance covers operation of the take-home vehicle while traveling to or from work or on personal errands (if they are off-duty at the time).