Nashville Bans Personal Use Of City Cars

Certain defining rules about the use of Nashville's city vehicles will soon be part of Metro law.

The Metro Council voted on July 19 to codify city policy on the use of government vehicles, requiring they be used only for official business and generally prohibiting the transportation of alcohol, friends and family members, and campaign literature.

The legislation was introduced after a TV news crew found former Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk David Torrence driving his car to a liquor store, among other offenses. Torrence resigned on July 22 to avoid being ousted from his elected position.

"What David Torrence did was a lapse in judgment, it was against policy, but it was not against the law," said Councilman Charlie Tygard, who sponsored the bill. "Now it’s against the law."

The new law also prohibits travel outside Metro boundaries without proper approval; driving while drinking or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs; any personal use "other than incidental"; and attending sporting events "that are not in the service of Metro."

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