Can PennDot employees CC at work?

[ray h]

Anyone know if PennDot employees (specifically those who work in driver and vehicle services) are allowed to carry while at work?

[twency]

Anyone know if PennDot employees (specifically those who work in driver and vehicle services) are allowed to carry while at work?

I'm not currently a Commonwealth employe (yeah, that's how they spelled it, one "e" at the end), but when I was I believe there was a standing executive order forbidding carrying firearms in the workplace other than by LEOs. Might have just been an agency-by-agency thing though, I can't recall for certain.

[Big Kahuna 19547]

Only those who are authorized to carry firearms may do so on state time. To answer your specific question... No they cannot...

From the PennDOT Manual:

Major Safety-Related Working Rule Violations
Willfully, deliberately, or repeatedly committing or allowing violations of
Department working rules and policies. This includes instances where there
is evidence of disregard of proper safety practices and precautions, such
as:
• Failure to comply with proper work zone traffic controls.
• Failure to use seatbelts.
• Operating any equipment in which the safety features have been
removed or disabled.
• Repeated personal injuries and preventable vehicle equipment
collisions.
• Fighting (any employee directly involved).
• Unauthorized possession of firearms or other dangerous weapons
on Department premises or during working hours.
• Bringing intoxicants or controlled substances to work; consuming
intoxicants or using controlled substances on Department premises;
reporting for duty under the influence of intoxicants or controlled
substance; or supervisory personnel allowing any of the above.
• Operating Department vehicles or equipment without a valid
operator’s license, appropriate classification or certification.
• Operating dead-lined equipment.
• Any other act that could endanger someone’s life or well being.
6

[ray h]

Only those who are authorized to carry firearms may do so on state time. To answer your specific question... No they cannot...

From the PennDOT Manual:

Major Safety-Related Working Rule Violations
Willfully, deliberately, or repeatedly committing or allowing violations of
Department working rules and policies. This includes instances where there
is evidence of disregard of proper safety practices and precautions, such
as:
• Failure to comply with proper work zone traffic controls.
• Failure to use seatbelts.
• Operating any equipment in which the safety features have been
removed or disabled.
• Repeated personal injuries and preventable vehicle equipment
collisions.
• Fighting (any employee directly involved).
• Unauthorized possession of firearms or other dangerous weapons
on Department premises or during working hours.
• Bringing intoxicants or controlled substances to work; consuming
intoxicants or using controlled substances on Department premises;
reporting for duty under the influence of intoxicants or controlled
substance; or supervisory personnel allowing any of the above.
• Operating Department vehicles or equipment without a valid
operator’s license, appropriate classification or certification.
• Operating dead-lined equipment.
• Any other act that could endanger someone’s life or well being.
6

Well, that sucks.
I appreciate it though.

[IronSight]

Only those who are authorized to carry firearms may do so on state time. To answer your specific question... No they cannot...

From the PennDOT Manual:

Major Safety-Related Working Rule Violations
Willfully, deliberately, or repeatedly committing or allowing violations of
Department working rules and policies. This includes instances where there
is evidence of disregard of proper safety practices and precautions, such
as:
• Failure to comply with proper work zone traffic controls.
• Failure to use seatbelts.
• Operating any equipment in which the safety features have been
removed or disabled.
• Repeated personal injuries and preventable vehicle equipment
collisions.
• Fighting (any employee directly involved).
• Unauthorized possession of firearms or other dangerous weapons
on Department premises or during working hours.
• Bringing intoxicants or controlled substances to work; consuming
intoxicants or using controlled substances on Department premises;
reporting for duty under the influence of intoxicants or controlled
substance; or supervisory personnel allowing any of the above.
• Operating Department vehicles or equipment without a valid
operator’s license, appropriate classification or certification.
• Operating dead-lined equipment.
• Any other act that could endanger someone’s life or well being.
6

Anyone got the authorization for that requirement in statute? I'm coming up with blanks in a search for it.

[kel ruger man]

yes they can, unauthorized weapons it said, meaning not haing a ltcf, or illegal weapon like a fully auto uzi, or you are convicted felon. the only place as a worker u cant carry is certain buildings in harrisburg. i know people that work for pa dot and they all carry

[ray h]

I guess the question becomes, who is the authorizing body?
The Sheriff has authorized me to carry on behalf of the commonwealth but the way I read it, the authorization must come from a higher up in PennDot.

[twency]

yes they can, unauthorized weapons it said, meaning not haing a ltcf, or illegal weapon like a fully auto uzi, or you are convicted felon. the only place as a worker u cant carry is certain buildings in harrisburg. i know people that work for pa dot and they all carry

If this interpretation was accurate then there would be no issue with PennDOT employees who have a LTCF open carrying during a declared state of emergency or in Philly. But I really don't think that interpretation is what was intended, nor how it would be interpreted by those in authority in the workplace.

A License to Carry Firearms does not mean that a person is authorized to carry everywhere in the state at all times; it only permits carry in certain places/times when he or she is not otherwise prohibited from carrying. As with private employers, the state is allowed to set certain types of workplace restrictions on its employees.

It is reasonable and IMO correct (though annoying) to read the restriction as requiring employees to obtain specific departmental authorization before possessing firearms or other dangerous weapons on department premises or during work hours.

Edited to add: there is also nothing illegal about a "fully auto uzi", unless you haven't gone through the legal steps to obtain one.

[Truckman]

Actually it says

• Unauthorized possession of firearms or other dangerous weapons on Department premises or during working hours.

So if you're authorized, you're good to go.
I guess the question would be, who's authorization do they honor?

[Big Kahuna 19547]

Link To PennDOT Employee safety manual

ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/Pub.../PUB%20445.pdf