Idling Sheriff's Vehicles it is About Dollars and Sense

Conclusions 4

• CL1
  Alternate power and monitoring systems to keep this equipment operating are readily available.
• CL2
  The Sheriff’s Office is testing a battery monitoring and alarm system.
• CL3
  Considerable cost savings could be realized with installation of alternative power or monitoring systems for these vehicles.
• CL4
  Santa Barbara County’s Anti-Idling policy, in effect since 2008, is an integral part of an effort to reduce fuel costs and hydrocarbon emissions. Equipping Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicles with alternate solutions to reduce or eliminate idling will play a meaningful role in achieving this goal. The Sheriff’s Office’s idling fuel cost alone has exceeded $1.25 million since that time. The Sheriff’s Office is now, after some delay, testing an economically viable solution to address this issue. The 2013-14 Santa Barbara County Grand Jury encourages the Sheriff’s Office to address other potential operational savings in the future with more vigor. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FINDING 1A The Sheriff’s Office does not comply with the county anti-idling policy. FINDING 1B The Sheriff’s Office non-compliance is based on its stated need to keep critical electronic equipment in the vehicles constantly operating. FINDING 2 Alternate power and monitoring systems to keep this equipment operating are readily available. FINDING 3 Considerable cost savings could be realized with installation of alternative power or monitoring systems for these vehicles. FINDING 4 The Sheriff’s Office is testing a battery monitoring and alarm system. RECOMMENDATION 1 That the Sheriff’s Office expedite the installation of an alternate power or a monitoring system to allow needed equipment to remain operational and in compliance with the County’s Anti-Idling Policy. 2013-14 Santa Barbara County Grand Jury 3 IDLING SHERIFF’S VEHICLES REQUEST FOR RESPONSE Pursuant to California Penal Code Section 933 and 933.05, the Jury requests each entity or individual named below to respond to the enumerated findings and recommendations within the specified statutory time limit: Santa Barbara County Sheriff – 60 days Findings 1A, 1B, 2, 3 and 4 Recommendation 1 2013-14 Santa Barbara County Grand Jury 4

Observations 1

• OB1
  In 2013, the Department of General Services studied the cost of unattended patrol vehicles left idling and determined it to be over $207,000 per year for the extra fuel alone. The results (below) were submitted to the Sheriff’s Office in August 2013, but no discernable action to reduce the cost to the taxpayer or the environmental harm was taken until March 2014. Patrol car Idling cost calculator Update data in cells with red arrows to change scenarios Note: Number of Patrol units per shift 30 Price per fuel gallon $4.05 Ford Motor Co. Crown Victoria 4.6 L V\8 * Fuel usage per hour .6 gallons Number of Patrol shifts per day 2 Gallons used per idle hour 0.80 * With A-C on .8 gallons * With A-C and emergency lights .9 gallons Average idle hours per shift 3.00 Idling fuel gallons used per day 144.00 Idling fuel cost per day $583.200 Idling fuel gallons used per week 1,008.00 Idling fuel cost per week $4,082.4 Idling fuel gallons used per month 4,262.40 Idling fuel cost per month $17,262.7 Idling fuel gallons used per year 51,148.80 Idling fuel cost per year $207,152.64 The consumption of 51,149 gallons of fuel due to idling during 2013 generated nearly one million pounds of hydrocarbon emissions.8 The County of Santa Barbara Vehicle and Equipment Anti-Idling Policy, with listed exceptions, specifically prohibits county vehicles from being left idling for more than five consecutive minutes. The Sheriff’s Office states it does not follow this policy because deputies are required to adhere to the mobile audio video system policy. This requires leaving the vehicles idling to keep the mobile audio video system powered up and ready for immediate activation. The Jury was informed that in addition to the added fuel and environmental costs, patrol cars left idling are retired earlier due to additional wear and tear on the engines. 6 County of Santa Barbara On-Line Policies and Procedures Manual Employee Use of County Vehicles 7 County of Santa Barbara Vehicle and Equipment Anti-Idling Policy 8 http:/www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/contentIncludes/co2_inc.htm 2013-14 Santa Barbara County Grand Jury 2 IDLING SHERIFF’S VEHICLES In late March 2014, a trial system was installed in one patrol car for evaluation. The system is a battery monitoring system with an “auto-start” feature that has not only a car alarm, but also a “Secure-Idle” feature designed to deter theft of the vehicle or its contents. The testing is estimated to take about a month. The system will monitor the vehicle’s battery and should significantly reduce the idling time for patrol vehicles. The estimated cost to modify the patrol fleet is $36,000. Among other options available is the use of alternate, or uninterruptible, power sources. These devices are used to provide a back-up battery system for computers and other electronic devices in the event of a power interruption and can be used in vehicles allowing equipment to remain operating with the engine off.

Agency Responses 1

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.