County vehicle policy criticized
By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Staff Writer larry@gaffneyledger.com

A county employee involved in a recent accident wasn't disciplined for not wearing a seat belt.

Cherokee County Councilman Quay Little wants to change that.

Little said county employees should face stiff penalties for failing to obey state law when operating a county-owned vehicle.

"We need to enforce state law and if (a county employee) isn't wearing a seat belt, they should be fired," Little said.

Little said county employees also should be prohibited from communicating on a cell phone while driving a countyowned vehicle.

The councilman wants county vehicles to be imprinted with the county seal so they can be easily identified.

Councilman Charles Mathis agreed with Little.

"There needs to be some penalty if a county employee causes an accident," Mathis said.

Mathis added that some county employees are using county-owned vehicles for their personal use.

"I see some county vehicles dropping kids off at school," he said.

There have been three accidents this year involving county owned vehicles.

Council agreed to take Little's concerns as informa