Company Cars

CZfool68

CZfool68

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So the new position I started this week comes with a few perks. And a few downsides. First off, company buildings are gun free zones. :(

But I won't be in the office full time. Just here and there. So the next issue is the company car. Rules say no guns in car on business. Personal time guns are fine. I will also be going in and put of various palces that will have varying degrees of gun friendliness. Possibly even some decent security at some places. So I have to be flexible with what I plan.

So for guys that have company cars or drive a lot for work give me your preparedness plans and how you handle sometimes carrying and sometimes not carrying. I need to refine what I keep in a pack and the car. And decide how to handle the carry gun issue.
 
Couldnt you just keep it in a bag of some sort? I doubt they'll be searching your belongings
 
First off concealed is concealed. I spend quite a bit of time visiting customers at sites that are posted with no issues. I’ve checked in and walked past plenty of “security” people as well.

If I’m going to enter somewhere that has a metal detector I leave it in the car. If I didn’t know they had a detector until I got to it I would just say “shit, I left something in my car. Be right back” go back and disarm and return.

In times that I’ve had to dress up as in shirt and tie, a computer bag is with me that doubles as my carry bag in those cases. It isn’t unusual for a business person to be protective of their computer bag and carry it with them everywhere including the bathroom
 
Chdamn said:
First off concealed is concealed. I spend quite a bit of time visiting customers at sites that are posted with no issues. I’ve checked in and walked past plenty of “security” people as well.

If I’m going to enter somewhere that has a metal detector I leave it in the car. If I didn’t know they had a detector until I got to it I would just say “shit, I left something in my car. Be right back” go back and disarm and return.

In times that I’ve had to dress up as in shirt and tie, a computer bag is with me that doubles as my carry bag in those cases. It isn’t unusual for a business person to be protective of their computer bag and carry it with them everywhere including the bathroom
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Great post just be aware some mfg facilities security does a quick bag search I have been in. Mainly from theft of products they are producing but probably safer for op to error on leaving in car till he knows the lay of land if in doubt.
 
three things:
1. old joke...the difference between a Jeep and a company car is that a company car can go ANYwhere.
2. when i drove a CC, i just didn't reveal what i had or didn't have. never had any problems.
3. so, if violating company rules is worth it (it was for me), then carry on.
 
Pistol and often rifle in the trunk, don’t worry about personal safety in the offices.

Only time I’ve been shot at in the office it was a customer with a rifle in the parking lot, carry pistol wouldn’t have helped.
 
Cowboy said:
You get to use your company car for your personal life? Dang that's a deal.
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I expect he’ll get a tax bill for personal use, so always best to minimize personal miles.
 
JimB said:
Pistol and often rifle in the trunk, don’t worry about personal safety in the offices.

Only time I’ve been shot at in the office it was a customer with a rifle in the parking lot, carry pistol wouldn’t have helped.
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Dayum! You need a new career path! Or a solid brick and steel office,
 
i negotiated a car allowance with my previous employer instead of a company car. Yes, the allowance is taxed but I got to drive what I like to drive and keep in the car what is important to me handy.
 
CZfool68 said:
Yes. But IF it gets caught I lose the job. Plus I add the risk of leaving it in a car at some placs. Those are the equations that need to be figured.
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Again, how often are you getting your bag checked at your job?
I get that breaking a rule could cost you your job, but I doubt that they'll be searching your car and your bags
 
Since guns are OK for personal time, how about, "I'm going to the range right after work." For carry, a small pocket gun will be a good choice. You may have to work around a metal detector situation now and then.
 
CZfool68 said:
Yes. But IF it gets caught I lose the job. Plus I add the risk of leaving it in a car at some placs. Those are the equations that need to be figured.
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Well then, just leave your weapon at home. I've been in outside sales for 34 years. No one has searched me or my car yet.
 
JimB said:
I expect he’ll get a tax bill for personal use, so always best to minimize personal miles.
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Not necessarily, I've had several company cars and never had a policy against personal use. It was actually common for the employees there to not even have personally owned cars. I sure do miss those days and especially the gas card and free maintenance.

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Chad nailed it already. This is one of those situations where the only issue is what you create for yourself. If you aren't able to be discreet or keep your business to yourself you should probably leave it home. The only way I see this becoming an issue is if you shoot someone on company time while in th company car at which point it's better to be alive and looking for a job than dead.

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Personal car use of a company car is considered taxable fringe benefit. Corporations will make the employees record and sign an affidavit for the personal car use for tax withholding obligations by the employer. Obviously, extremely hard to enforce and I don’t know if .gov ever got a company on that technicality since there is much bigger fish to go after.
 
Wahoo95 said:
Chad nailed it already. This is one of those situations where the only issue is what you create for yourself. If you aren't able to be discreet or keep your business to yourself you should probably leave it home. The only way I see this becoming an issue is if you shoot someone on company time while in th company car at which point it's better to be alive and looking for a job than dead.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
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I'd say that about nails it.
 
I had a very liberal sectary I had sent flowers to when she was hospitalized give me a hug when I visited. I was carrying under an untucked polo and her hand landed right on th grip.

She jerked back and asked what’s that. I just said nothing to worry about just a heart monitor for my annual physical. Heart problems run in my family.

She was very apologetic for intruding on my medical privacy. Lol.
 
Personally, I'd rather take the allowance and use my own vehicle. Then my vehicle would be a built Wrangler on 37's (or larger) or a Dodge Challenger R/T 392. ;):D
 
Chdamn said:
I had a very liberal sectary I had sent flowers to when she was hospitalized give me a hug when I visited. I was carrying under an untucked polo and her hand landed right on th grip.

She jerked back and asked what’s that. I just said nothing to worry about just a heart monitor for my annual physical. Heart problems run in my family.

She was very apologetic for intruding on my medical privacy. Lol.
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I’d have heart problems too if somebody grabbed my piece. ;)
 
fishgutzy said:
Personally, I'd rather take the allowance and use my own vehicle. Then my vehicle would be a built Wrangler on 37's (or larger) or a Dodge Challenger R/T 392. ;):D
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I did some math and research and the personal car reimbursement plan they offer is a rip off. Financially the company car is the way to go. In a prior job I had a truck and was reimbursed. But the maintenance, think tires, and gas milage of a nice truck make it a loser when you are driving something like 30,000 miles a year. Years ago I had a job that paid $700 month car allowance and allowed me to use the company credit card for all my maintenance and gas. Those were the days.
 
Years ago, I unplugged the speedometer on my company car when I drove it for personal use and just paid for my own gas. I hunted 2 days a week and it got hard to hide that many personal miles. Worked like a charm, I just didn't know how fast I was going! Where there's a will, there's a way!
 
I have a company car that is also taxed as a fringe benefit. Can't beat it. They have a formula they use and by the time it hits me I end up paying 22% fed income tax on it. Gas, maintenance, insurance all paid. If it breaks down they put me in a rental until fixed. I think we've put 14,000 miles on it this year personally. I drive 50-60k a year for work. Saves us a ton of money and a great perk to say the least.

Company policy is no firearms in the vehicle at any time, work or personal. My boss only works with me every 3-4 months and while he does a vehicle inspection he does not search the car in depth.

Be smart about it and you will not have any issues. I suggest getting a lock box or something similar installed. If anyone asks it's for your wallet and work tablet/computer. If your boss is working with you then make dang sure that's all that's in there. Again be smart and enjoy the benefit.

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While my current job reimburses mileage on my personal car, most of the past 20 years, I've had a company car. And they all had a no-guns-in-the-car policy. I usually kept a gun safely stored in the glove box or console and remembered to remove any trace of it when my boss was riding with me. It's funny- one of my former bosses is now retired and runs a big gun shop in Panama City, FL (C&G Sporting Goods). I wish I knew his thoughts on guns back then. My current company is made up of ultra-liberal NY millennials, so I make sure to keep my opinions about politics and guns to myself.
 
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Reminds me of a story a friend who has a company car told. His wife was driving it one day and got stopped for a traffic violation. She didn't know that he kept a car gun in there and she didn't have a govt. permission slip. Of course the registration cane up as corporate, so there was no flag to them having guns and it was a non issue in the end.

One other advantage that I understand applies to corporate owner cars, and I assume this would apply to company ones too is no insurance points against your license.
 
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