Clayton County police officers who get into minor automobile accidents can now return to patrol the streets quicker if they take a class on driving.

The Clayton County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to change a 17-year-old policy in which officers and other county employees had their driving privileges suspended after two "preventable" wrecks.

"This is a lot more fair to public safety because we spend 24-7 in our cars," said Tim Robinson, Clayton County Police deputy chief of operations. "Of course we have a lot more accidents, because we're on the road a lot more."

Under the old policy, dozens of the 325 Clayton officers who backed into poles or sideswiped a guardrail twice a year were forced to give up their patrol car for two years.

One officer is now on desk duty and two others were on the verge of losing their cars because of minor infractions, Robinson said.

"It meant less officers on the street," Robinson said. "If you're running lights and sirens and racing to a call and someone doesn't yield, [the officer] could be charged with that wreck."

The new policy allows employees to get into three minor or preventable wrecks before losing their cars. It also allows employees to take a defensive driving class to get their privileges back in about half the time as under the old policy, Robinson said.

The commission changed the policy after hearing complaints from the police department.

"As a taxpayer, we want police officers on the street. Good police officers should not be benched because of a punitive policy," said Pamela Noah, a Rex resident and member of the Clayton County Citizens Active Supporters group.

This is the second driving policy that the commission has heard feedback from police.

In February, a policy went into effect that reduced the number of county employees who could take their vehicles home. The policy forced about 70 officers, including homicide detectives, to lose their take-home cars.

Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell said the policy change is designed to save the county an estimated $3 million a year in fuel costs.

Police say the policy may save money, but it doesn't help solve crimes. The policy forces officers who are called back to work to drive to the police department and pick up a patrol car before heading to a crime scene.

"Detectives need to be able to rapidly respond to crime scenes," Robinson said. "In the U.S., 66 percent of all murders are solved in first 48 hours. We need to be able to respond to different locations outside the county, go to the hospital or find suspects outside the county quickly."

On Tuesday, Robinson asked the commission to allow 21 more investigators and six more SWAT officers to take their police cars home. The commission held off on the request, saying it needed more information.

However, it authorized fire department employees to take home three more cars after seeing the need during last month's tornado.