City Driving Criteria

Effective service to the citizens and efficient use of City resources requires safe, accident-free operation of the motor vehicles used to perform official duties. This policy establishes the guidelines and procedures that govern vehicle operation, including driving and accident record review, as well as the disciplinary and rehabilitative measures that may be implemented. These guidelines rely on a three-pronged philosophy of acceptable driving history, driver training, and on-going accountability for individual actions.

The City’s core value of personal responsibility, i.e., taking ownership and accepting the consequences of individual actions, is the central component of the guidelines. The Human Resources department, in conjunction with the Risk Management department, ensures that all state and local requirements relevant to requests for information and official driving records are followed, including appropriate security of all forms, records, and documentation.

Applicants

The City of Lynchburg requires that all applicants for positions that include driving a City vehicle, as stated in the class specification, authorize the City to obtain a copy of the Official Driving Record from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) by completing the DMV Information Request form available in Human Resources or on the City’s website. To be considered, an Official Driving Record must be issued within 30 days of the application. Records from states other than Virginia may also be required and must be submitted by the applicant within established timeframes.
 
All applicant Driving Records will be reviewed and approved by the City’s Risk Manager, or designee, before an employment offer may be extended. In unusual situations, conditional approval may be granted when a department director and the Risk Manager agree to specific criteria for on-the-job review of driving practices. 
 
A minimally acceptable driving record for applicants includes the following components:

• -4 or fewer demerit points
• No Driving While Intoxicated/Driving Under the Influence (DWI/DUI) convictions within the last three (3) years
• At least three (3) years of continuously valid licensing
• An overall pattern of safe vehicle operation and driving habits

The following conditions are unacceptable and normally prevent employment in a position that includes driving responsibilities:

• -5 or more demerit points
• DWI/DUI conviction within the last three (3) years
• A record of a suspended license, unless the applicant has completed two (2) full years with no subsequent moving violations, at-fault accidents, or penalties. 
• Any combination of violations, convictions or accidents that creates a pattern that in a reasonable person’s view indicates to the Risk Manager that the applicant is a high risk driver due to an ongoing history of unsafe driving habits

Applicants for positions that include driving a City vehicle must have a minimum of three (3) years of acceptable licensed driving experience or be at least 18 years of age and have a driving record that is better than the minimally acceptable criteria. In the case that the position requires transporting non-employees in City vehicles, the applicant must be at least 21 years of age and have a minimum of three (3) years of acceptable, licensed driving experience.