B-113627, MARCH 26, 1953, 32 COMP. GEN. 409
Highlights
TRAVELED IN A GOVERNMENT AUTOMOBILE ON AN ACTUAL EXPENSE BASIS FROM HIS DUTY STATION TO ANOTHER CITY TO ATTEND AN ALL DAY FLOOD CONTROL CONFERENCE HELD IN A BUSINESS DISTRICT WHERE ON-THE-STREET METER PARKING IS RESTRICTED TO ONE HOUR MAY BE REIMBURSED THE SUM EXPENDED FOR PARKING THE GOVERNMENT AUTOMOBILE ON A PRIVATELY-OPERATED PARKING LOT. 1953: REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF JANUARY 22. THE RECORD FURTHER SHOWS THAT THE CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT OF DALLAS WHERE ON-THE STREET METER PARKING IS RESTRICTED TO ONE HOUR DURING CERTAIN BUSINESS HOURS. IS PROHIBITED ENTIRELY FROM 4:30 TO 6 P.M. THE CLAIM VOUCHER CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT: * * * PREVIOUS EFFORTS TO AVOID USE OF PARKING LOTS HAVE RESULTED IN CONSIDERABLE LOST TIME IN LOCATING VACANT SPACE AND THEN WALKING AN AVERAGE OF FROM 8 TO 10 BLOCKS TO PLACE OF DUTY.
B-113627, MARCH 26, 1953, 32 COMP. GEN. 409
FEES - PARKING - GOVERNMENT-OWNED VEHICLES AN EMPLOYEE WHO, PURSUANT TO COMPETENT ORDERS, TRAVELED IN A GOVERNMENT AUTOMOBILE ON AN ACTUAL EXPENSE BASIS FROM HIS DUTY STATION TO ANOTHER CITY TO ATTEND AN ALL DAY FLOOD CONTROL CONFERENCE HELD IN A BUSINESS DISTRICT WHERE ON-THE-STREET METER PARKING IS RESTRICTED TO ONE HOUR MAY BE REIMBURSED THE SUM EXPENDED FOR PARKING THE GOVERNMENT AUTOMOBILE ON A PRIVATELY-OPERATED PARKING LOT.
COMPTROLLER GENERAL WARREN TO H. R. SMITH, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, MARCH 26, 1953:
REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF JANUARY 22, 1953, TRANSMITTING A VOUCHER IN THE AMOUNT OF $1.80 STATED IN FAVOR OF ROY G. ANDREWS, SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE, FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THE SUM EXPENDED FOR DAYTIME PARKING OF A GOVERNMENT AUTOMOBILE ON A PRIVATELY-OPERATED PARKING LOT IN DALLAS, TEXAS, ON DECEMBER 18-19, 1952, AND REQUESTING A DECISION AS TO WHETHER SAID VOUCHER LEGALLY MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.
THE RECORD SHOWS THAT THE CLAIMANT OCCUPIES THE POSITION OF HYDRAULIC ENGINEER AT FORT WORTH, TEXAS, AND PURSUANT TO TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION NO. 4- 14-53, DATED JULY 1, 1952, HE TRAVELED FROM HIS DUTY STATION TO DALLAS, TEXAS, IN A GOVERNMENT AUTOMOBILE ON DECEMBER 18 AND 19, 1952, TO ATTEND A FLOOD CONTROL CONFERENCE WITH DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY ENGINEERS. THE RECORD FURTHER SHOWS THAT THE CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT OF DALLAS WHERE ON-THE STREET METER PARKING IS RESTRICTED TO ONE HOUR DURING CERTAIN BUSINESS HOURS, AND IS PROHIBITED ENTIRELY FROM 4:30 TO 6 P.M. ON REGULAR WORKDAYS. THE CLAIM VOUCHER CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:
* * * PREVIOUS EFFORTS TO AVOID USE OF PARKING LOTS HAVE RESULTED IN CONSIDERABLE LOST TIME IN LOCATING VACANT SPACE AND THEN WALKING AN AVERAGE OF FROM 8 TO 10 BLOCKS TO PLACE OF DUTY. WHEN REQUIRED DUTY IS FOR SEVERAL HOURS IT IS NOT FEASIBLE TO ATTEMPT THE USE OF PARKING METERS. USE OF PARKING LOT WAS THE ONLY EXPEDIENT METHOD OF HANDLING THE GOVERNMENT. CAR ON DEC. 18 AND 19.
IT IS NOTED FROM YOUR LETTER THAT THE CONFERENCE CONTINUED WITHOUT INTERRUPTION FOR PERIODS OF FROM THREE TO FIVE HOURS, AND THE VOUCHER DISCLOSES THAT UPON THE DATES ABOVE INDICATED THE CLAIMANT ARRIVED IN DALLAS SHORTLY AFTER 9 A.M. AND DEPARTED THEREFROM FOR FORT WORTH AT 6 AND 4 P.M., RESPECTIVELY.
UPON THE BASIS OF THE PRESENT RECORD--- IT BEING UNDERSTOOD THAT THE SERVICES IN QUESTION WERE RENDERED BY A PRIVATELY-OPERATED PARKING LOT- - AND SINCE THE TRAVEL WAS PERFORMED IN A GOVERNMENT AUTOMOBILE USED AND OPERATED ON AN ACTUAL EXPENSE BASIS PURSUANT TO COMPETENT ORDERS, THIS OFFICE WILL INTERPOSE NO OBJECTION TO THE CERTIFICATION OF THE VOUCHER FOR PAYMENT AS CLAIMED, IF OTHERWISE CORRECT.