Federal Hatch Act Advisory:
Posting a Sign on a Private Vehicle

October 30, 1996

     This letter is in response to your inquiry concerning the Hatch Act. Specifically. you ask whether the Act would prohibit an employee of the Postal Service from putting a political sign, of any size, on their private vehicle which they park on postal property? You clarify that the employee is not using her personal vehicle to conduct postal business.

     The Hatch Act Reform Amendments of 1993 (5 U.S.C. §§ 7321-7326) generally permit most federal employees to actively participate in partisan political management and partisan political campaigns. However, employees are prohibited from participating in political activities while on duty or in a government building. 5 U.S.C. § 7324(a)(1)&(2).

     The Hatch Act does not prohibit an employee from placing a political sign, poster or bumper sticker on his personal vehicle which is parked at a federal facility. Furthermore, the size of the sign or its partisan or nonpartisan message does not change the application of this regulation. Please call Karen Dalheim at (202) 653-7143 or 1-800-854-2824 if you have any questions.