Conference 7.286::digital

    Probably not, but claim it on the back of the form as a miscellaneous
    expense, and see what happens.
    
    It the car crapped out because of some event specific only to the trip,
    you are probably O.K.  If it was a "normal" breakdown, you're probably
    stuck with it (but, then you would have been anyhow...).

    I've been told that ALL car expenses for a plan B car are the owner's
    responsibility. This includes tickets,towing etc. You might try putting
    it on your expenses but even if your manager says he'll pay,I'd bet
    he'd have a tough time getting it past the people back east.
    
    BTW: Even if you get your plan A car towed or get a ticket with
    it,you're still supposed to pay.
    
    Ken

re Note 1351.2 by CSC32::K_BOUCHARD:

>     I've been told that ALL car expenses for a plan B car are the owner's
>     responsibility. 

        I believe that .0 is asking about a "no plan" car, i.e., a
        personal car used for an occasional business-related trip and
        for which a $.225 per mileage reimbursement is given.

        Bob

    Reference 1351.3, same answer as .2  Digital is not responsible for
    towing for Plan B or "no plan" vehicles.  The fact that the car was
    being used during a business trip does not alter this.
    

    		Thanks, for the replies. I guess I'm stuck for the tow
    bill.
    
         		Thanks, Jim
    

    I used to have these arguments when I was in the field. It simply
    wasn't appropraite to walk out in the middle of a presentation to feed
    a parking meter, especially if I was delivering the presentation.
    
    But DEC would not pay expense items labelled 'parking fines'.
    
    And DEC would not pay taxi fares if you had a company car.
    
    Sounds like its time for some creative accouting on your part.
    
    gary

    Check your personal Car Ins. policy. Most cover 1 or 2 tows a year.

    re: .6
    
    Bring along an assistant, whose only job is to feed the parking meter.
        John Sauter

    
    I had a similar experience a couple of years ago.
    
    I was asked to pick up a piece of DEC owned equipment that was
    at a vendors for repair since it was on my way home.  I figured,
    hey, no problem.  Well, to make a long story short, I did get a
    flat tire caused by a nail on the road right in front of the vendors
    place. (Not the cleanest or well maintained road,).
    
    I put this expense to have the tire removed and plugged at a local
    gas station on my expense report that week.  Of course my manager
    balked at it.  I argued that I never drive down that road, have never
    been down the road before, and had I not been doing DEC a favor by
    going out of my way on my own time I would never had incured the 
    expense.
    
    He paid it.  I would say if the cause of the tow in question would
    have been avoided had you not made the trip, then I would say that 
    DEC should pay.  If you needed a tow because of your own negligence
    (say you forgot to fill up your tank, come on,admit it), then you're
    on your own.
    
    good luck
         
    
    

Don't feed parking meters in Maynard or Boston (or many other cities);
you'll still get a ticket if you park over the two hour (or other) limit.

    re: insurance
    
    Most auto policies do indeed cover towing once or twice a year *if* the
    tow is for some car problem. I would venture to say that an insurance
    co. might balk if the car was towed for some other reason,like,say,you
    were parked in front of a fire hydrant. In any case,check your policy.
    
    Ken

    The mileage reimbursement is supposed to cover LOTS of expenses you
    incur, not just gas. Three years ago I was returning to Maynard from a
    meeting in Merrimack, and got a flat tire. The tire only had about 15K
    miles on it, so it wasn't worn out. Inspection at a gas station showed
    that there was a slash, probably from metal or something in the road.
    To make a long story short, when I got the flat, it was January, in
    Nashua, NH, already about only 20 degrees out, very windy, and I sat
    alongside Rte. 3 for 30 minutes until a VERY kind motorist stopped and
    helped me change the tire. I do have AAA, but do you think a Nashua cop
    would cruise by when I needed one?
    
    I had to buy a new tire to replace my spare. Management would not cover
    the cost because anything like that is covered under that 22.2 cent
    reimbursement. It would takes lots of miles to pay for a $60 tire. I
    also would not have been traveling down that road had I not been
    returning from DEC business. Still no reimbursement. Let's just say
    that now if I have to drive anywhere on DEC business, I'm a little
    pickier. I don't go in bad weather, and try to go via DEC vehicles if I
    can. 
    
    Kathleen who moved to Georgia and hopes to never get stuck in sub-zero
    New Hampshire again!
    

    Re: .6 Yum
    
    Re: .10 You get the Boot in Amsterdam
    
    

    
    Since it came up here already....
    
       Does anybody remember when exactly the �22.5 reimbursment amount was
    set? And, does anybody know when it might go up?
       I think the cost of operating a car for Digital has gone up.
    Shees...... just in the last 6 months for gas alone...
    
    	John
    

    Since I keep very good files, it was 4/4/88.
    

    And of course, you might remember the IRS in Dec. set the 1991 standard
    reimbursement rate for business use of an automobile to 27.5 cents, up
    from 26 cents for 1990.  Be sure to consider the difference between
    what DEC pays & what the IRS allows if you file the long form.
    Mark