B-166472, MAY 14, 1969

B-166472, MAY 14, 1969

TO MAJOR P. BOZEMAN:

THIS WILL REFER TO YOUR LETTER OF MARCH 13, 1969, REFERENCE DSASC MF, ENCLOSING A CLAIM (VOUCHER) SUBMITTED BY MR. ARTHUR ROSENHOCH FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRAVEL EXPENSE VIA PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLE INCURRED ON THE OCCASION OF MR. ROSENHOCH'S ATTENDANCE AT AN INTERSERVICE MEETING ON INVENTORY STRATIFICATION AT CRYSTAL CITY PLAZA ON JANUARY 22 AND 23 MR. ROSENHOCH CLAIMS A MILEAGE ALLOWANCE OF 10 CENTS A MILE FOR 32 MILES OF TRAVEL BETWEEN CAMERON STATION AND CRYSTAL CITY PLAZA, OR $3.20 AND PARKING FEES IN THE AMOUNT OF $4.00, OR A TOTAL CLAIM OF $7.20. YOU ASK WHETHER SUCH CLAIM MAY BE PAID UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES HEREINAFTER RELATED.

MR. ROSENHOCH'S CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS DISALLOWED BY THE OFFICE MOTOR VEHICLE TRANSPORTATION OFFICER ON THE GROUND THAT THE APPLICABLE REGULATION (DSAC REG. 4510.1, V.A.) REQUIRES, AS A CONDITION FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF LOCAL TRAVEL EXPENSES, ADVANCE APPROVAL OF SUCH TRAVEL EXCEPT IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. YOUR LETTER STATES THAT A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE WAS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE THE NEEDED TRANSPORTATION. IT IS MR. ROSENHOCH'S POSITION THAT USE OF HIS PRIVATELY OWNED AUTOMOBILE WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE HOURS HE WAS REQUIRED TO ATTEND MEETINGS AT CRYSTAL CITY PLAZA EXTENDED PAST NORMAL WORKING HOURS AT CAMERON STATION AND HE NEEDED THE AUTOMOBILE FOR EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION EITHER TO CAMERON STATION OR HIS HOME AT SUCH TIME AS THE MEETINGS WERE CONCLUDED.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF SUBSECTION V.A., DSASC REG. 4510.1:

"V. PROCEDURES

"A. TRAVELERS, IN EMERGENCY CASES, AND SUBJECT TO JUSTIFICATION, REGARDLESS OF GRADE, MAY USE LOCAL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION IN CONNECTION WITH OFFICIAL BUSINESS IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION. ALL TRIPS OTHER THAN THE ABOVE REQUIRE PRIOR APPROVAL FROM THE OFFICE MOTOR VEHICLE TRANSPORTATION OFFICER.'

INTERPRETED LITERALLY THE ABOVE PROVISION MEANS THAT NO FORM OF LOCAL TRANSPORTATION, WHETHER BY SCHEDULED DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BUS SERVICE, COMMERCIAL BUS SERVICE, MILITARY MOTOR POOL, PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLE, OR TAXICAB MAY BE USED BY AN EMPLOYEE IN THE COURSE OF OFFICIAL BUSINESS UNLESS THE TRANSPORTATION IS APPROVED IN ADVANCE, EXCEPT IN AN EMERGENCY. ALSO, SEE SECTION 3.5B OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS CONCERNING AUTHORIZATION OR APPROVAL OF THE USE OF PRIVATELY OWNED AUTOMOBILES ON A MILEAGE BASIS.

SINCE THE USE OF MR. ROSENHOCH'S PRIVATELY OWNED AUTOMOBILE WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED OR APPROVED AFTER THE FACT WE ARE AWARE OF NO BASIS WHEREBY HE CAN BE REIMBURSED FOR THE TRAVEL IN QUESTION.

ACCORDINGLY, THE CLAIM (VOUCHER) IS RETAINED IN THE FILES OF THIS OFFICE.