I recently ran across a car that is state-operated, which I’m assuming because it had a state official license plate. It also had a political bumpersticker for a gubernatorial candiate for this last election. It strikes me as egregiously inappropriate.
Yet I could be completely wrong. I would imagine that if there were any particular ban, it would be a state to state piece of legislation. But where would I start to look for such a thing?
[Mods, feel free to move to IMHO or the Pit after the question is answered, thanks.]
I just called the Secretary of State’s office, who transferred me to the BMV, and they identified the operator. He’s a state legislator of the same party as the bumpersticker. Coincidentally, his website declares him a “bipartisan leader of the House”.
I believe the car itself is privately owned, unless the state (currently under one of the largest budget-crunches in the country) is popping for a Lincoln LS. I’d imagine that would give him considerable leeway in this circumstance.
It is a perq of some state government offices that a car from the state fleet is issued to the person holding that office as his full-time vehicle, which may be used for personal purposes as well as his official functions, though having it available at all times for him to use officially is the underlying purpose of the perq.
In most such cases, he is entitled to treat it as if it were his personal vehicle, within “reasonable man” limits. (I.e., he may put bumper stickers on it, have detailing to have his name and official function put on the doors, etc.; he may use it for a vacation trip or go shopping at the mall in it. He may not have flames-and-death’s-heads detailing done to it; he may not loan it to his son to deliver pizza with, etc.)
I don’t have any case law on this – I presume codes of conduct are issued with such vehicles. But that’s my understanding of the rules under which they’re issued.
Morally right? Very questionable. But standard practice in many if not most states? You bet.
Perhaps a person who holds an elective office or an office that’s held by appointment by an elected official has more leeway, especially if the car is for his or her use only.
I should think that restrictions on political bumper stickers would apply more to non-political civil service positions.