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ASG employees operating govt vehicles must have valid licenses

ASG logo
Both a driver’s license and an official govt driving permit
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Through a Mar. 22 memorandum, Gov. Lemamu P. S. Mauga reiterated government policy that bans ASG workers who don’t have a driver’s license and don’t have an official permit to operate government vehicles.

“Many ASG employees have government vehicles entrusted to them for their official use,” the governor wrote to cabinet directors, under the memo titled ‘ASG vehicles driven by those not possessing licenses’.

The governor points out that it’s the responsibility of these employees to protect, conserve and properly operate government vehicles according to the laws, regulations and Executive Orders — established regarding the use of these vehicles.

Lemanu cited a provision of local regulations, which require that a government vehicle not be issued to any ASG employee who does not have a valid government official driving permit while operating a government vehicle.

Additionally, he cited two other regulations which provide that no person may operate any motor vehicle without a driver’s license or driving privilege card issued by the Police Commissioner and that any employee driving a government vehicle must have both a valid driver’s license and a valid government official driving permit with them when operating a government vehicle.

He pointed out that under provision of a 2021 executive order the ASG Road Marshals are charged with implementing, monitoring and enforcing compliant use of government vehicles.

In addition to the procedures laid out in a separate executive order — also issued in 2021 — the governor said that, the “Road Marshals are now instructed to take charge and possession of government vehicles being operated without a valid driver’s license and a valid ASG official driving permit unless it is required for further processing” by Public Safety Department.

Cabinet members were informed that government vehicles, secured by a Road Marshal, will be logged and an incident report will be forwarded to the Governor’s Chief of Staff. Furthermore, the director or agency head responsible for the vehicle must meet with the Chief of Staff regarding the incident in order for the secured vehicle to be released.

“We all share the responsibility to protect and conserve all government property,” the governor wrote.

“Being good stewards of the vehicles entrusted to use includes using them in compliance with the laws regulations of American Samoa,” the governor concluded.

The governor’s memo comes at a time when there have been reports from some departments, of government department employees operating ASG cars while not possessing valid driver’s licenses, nor official permits.