B-171953, MAR 30, 1971
Highlights
A COURTESY CAR DRIVER IS COMPARABLE TO A TAXICAB OR AIRPORT LIMOUSINE DRIVER AND TIPS MAY BE REIMBURSABLE TO THE EXTENT THEY ARE COVERED BY STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS. BECAUSE THE $1 TIP APPROXIMATES THAT WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN REIMBURSABLE IF A TAXICAB HAD BEEN USED. ACCARDI: FURTHER REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF FEBRUARY 1. THE AMOUNT CLAIMED WAS PREVIOUSLY DISALLOWED SINCE THE EXPENSE WAS CONSIDERED PART OF THE MOTEL SERVICES. WHICH ARE COVERED IN THE PER DIEM ALLOWANCE. THE EMPLOYEE REQUESTED RECONSIDERATION OF THE MATTER ON THE BASIS THAT IF HE HAD NOT USED THE COURTESY CAR HE WOULD HAVE HAD TO USE A TAXICAB AT GREATER EXPENSE TO THE GOVERNMENT. IN VIEW OF THIS AND SINCE COURTESY CAR DRIVERS ARE NOT LISTED.
B-171953, MAR 30, 1971
REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES - TIP DECISION ALLOWING CLAIM BY CARL E. WEBB FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF $1 REPRESENTING A TIP TO A MOTEL COURTESY CAR DRIVER. A COURTESY CAR DRIVER IS COMPARABLE TO A TAXICAB OR AIRPORT LIMOUSINE DRIVER AND TIPS MAY BE REIMBURSABLE TO THE EXTENT THEY ARE COVERED BY STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS, SUBSECTION 3.1B. BECAUSE THE $1 TIP APPROXIMATES THAT WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN REIMBURSABLE IF A TAXICAB HAD BEEN USED, THE VOUCHER MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.
TO MR. RALPH W. ACCARDI:
FURTHER REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF FEBRUARY 1, 1971, REFERENCE 6540, REQUESTING OUR DECISION AS TO WHETHER YOU MAY CERTIFY FOR PAYMENT A VOUCHER FOR $1 IN FAVOR OF MR. CARL E. WEBB, AN EMPLOYEE OF YOUR AGENCY, REPRESENTING A TIP TO A MOTEL COURTESY CAR DRIVER.
THE AMOUNT CLAIMED WAS PREVIOUSLY DISALLOWED SINCE THE EXPENSE WAS CONSIDERED PART OF THE MOTEL SERVICES, SUCH AS BELLHOPS, WHICH ARE COVERED IN THE PER DIEM ALLOWANCE. THE EMPLOYEE REQUESTED RECONSIDERATION OF THE MATTER ON THE BASIS THAT IF HE HAD NOT USED THE COURTESY CAR HE WOULD HAVE HAD TO USE A TAXICAB AT GREATER EXPENSE TO THE GOVERNMENT.
SUBSECTION 6.1 OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS (SGTR) PROVIDES THAT THE PER DIEM ALLOWANCE INCLUDES ALL FEES AND TIPS TO WAITERS, PORTERS, BAGGAGE MEN, BELLBOYS, HOTEL MAIDS, DINING ROOM STEWARDS AND OTHERS ON VESSELS, AND HOTEL SERVANTS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. THE EMPLOYEES LISTED PERFORM THEIR SERVICES EITHER IN OR IN THE VICINITY OF A HOTEL, MOTEL, RESTAURANT, OR VESSEL. IN VIEW OF THIS AND SINCE COURTESY CAR DRIVERS ARE NOT LISTED, WE BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE COMPARABLE TO TAXICAB OR AIRPORT LIMOUSINE DRIVERS AND, THEREFORE, SUCH TIPS MAY BE REIMBURSABLE TO THE EXTENT TIPS TO SUCH DRIVERS ARE REIMBURSABLE UNDER SUBSECTION 3.1B, SGTR, AS AMENDED BY TRANSMITTAL MEMORANDUM NO. 7 DATED APRIL 7, 1967.
MR. WEBB STATES THAT IF HE HAD USED A TAXICAB THE COST WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT $7 PLUS TIP. INASMUCH AS THE TIP APPROXIMATES THAT WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN REIMBURSABLE IF A TAXICAB HAD BEEN USED, THE VOUCHER RETURNED HEREWITH MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT IF OTHERWISE PROPER.