1.0          PURPOSE:            To define an authorization process to become a qualified driver to operate either a University owned vehicle

                                                or personal vehicles to conduct University business.

 

2.0          RESPONSIBILITY:

 

2.1                  The supervisor / department head will review the Authorization/Driving History Form. 

2.1.1             After considering the need for the applicant to drive a University owned vehicle, the supervisor / department head may either approve the applicant’s request and forward the Authorization/Driving History Form to the Program Designee coordinating and administering the McNeese State University Safe Driver Program. 

2.1.2             The supervisor may reject the request and destroy the Authorization/History Form (this form contains personal and confidential information).

 

3.0                  PROCEDURE

 

3.1                  Applicant(s) seeking authorization must first complete an Authorization/Driving History Form (Section 7: Forms)

3.2                  Applicant must submit the completed form to his/her supervisor for review and consideration. 

3.3                  Once the supervisor / department head had approved the Authorization / Driving History form, it will be forward to the University’s program administrator Program Designee for review.

3.3.1             The completed form will be forwarded to the proper state agency to obtain an Operator Driver Record (ODR). 

3.3.2             The Program Designee will review the ODR to determine whether or not the applicant is eligible to participate in the MSU Safe Driver Program and become a driver of a University owned vehicle or his/her personal vehicle to conduct University business.

3.3.2.1        The review of an ODR is necessary to determine whether or not an applicant to the program is considered a High Risk Driver (HRD).

3.3.2.2        At no time is an HRD eligible to drive either a University owned vehicle or his/her personal vehicle to conduct University business. 

3.3.2.2.1             Definition of an HRD:An individual having three or more convictions, guilty pleas and/or nolo contendere pleas for moving violations or an individual having a single conviction, guilty plea or nolo contendere plea for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, hit and run driving, vehicular negligent injury, reckless operation of a vehicle or similar violation, within the previous year of application. 

3.3.2.2.2             If the Program Designee discovers the applicant is an HRD, the application will be rejected but kept on file.

3.3.2.2.3             The applicant will be notified of the rejection and it will be his/her responsibility to notify his/her supervisor of the rejection.

3.3.2.2.4             The applicant may reapply at an appropriately later date. 

3.3.2.3        If the ODR reflects the applicant is a viable candidate to drive either a University owned vehicle or his or her personal vehicle to conduct state business, the MSUDSP Program Designee will advise the applicant and the applicant’s supervisor of this.  At this point the applicant will be granted temporary driving privileges. 

3.3.3             If granted temporary driving privileges, each applicant must attend a Safe Driver Training Course within three months.

3.3.3.1        Failure to attend this course will result in termination of the applicant’s temporary driving privileges. 

3.3.3.2        If an applicant’s temporary driving privileges are suspended, disciplinary actions or sanctions may be placed upon the applicant.

3.3.4             Drivers are to operate only those University owned vehicles falling into their designated class of operation.

3.3.5             Drivers must possess a current valid motor vehicle operator’s license at all times.