PRINCE GEORGE’S County Council member Mel Franklin (D-Upper Marlboro) was reportedly on his way home at 11:30 p.m. Nov. 21 when he crashed his county-owned vehicle into another vehicle, according to police who charged him with drunken driving. It is not known where Mr. Franklin had been, whether he had been on county business or why he apparently walked away from the accident scene. Also unclear is why Mr. Franklin was even allowed to use a county vehicle, considering that he previously had crashed two other ones assigned to him. What is clear is that this Prince George’s politician has some serious issues that need to be addressed.

Foremost is whether Mr. Franklin’s conduct makes him fit to serve in public office.

Mr. Franklin, who is now in his second term and has been touted as possible successor to County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, has offered no comment on the latest accident, refusing to return calls. He faces criminal charges, having allegedly been found with a blood alcohol concentration greater than the legal limit. As his attorney and county officials pointed out, he is entitled to a legal process. But his failure to provide any explanation for his actions or use of government property is simply not in keeping with the obligations of a public official. At the very least, there should have been some expression of sympathy for the two people who were taken to the hospital after their car was rear-ended; thankfully, they have been discharged.

The seriousness of an incident in which someone could have been killed and the county held liable is underscored by the revelation of two previous accidents within the span of months in 2012 involving Mr. Franklin and government vehicles. According to The Post’s Arelis R. Hernández, these were never reported to the public. In one incident, Mr. Franklin slammed into the back of another vehicle, totaling the county-owned SUV he had been driving. That time, his carelessness cost taxpayers $33,171.92 to replace the wrecked auto, plus nearly another $7,000 to compensate the driver of the other car who claimed Mr. Franklin initially identified himself as a police officer.

Mr. Franklin is not the first Prince George’s council member to get into trouble driving a county car; council member Karen R. Toles (D-Suitland) was caught going more than 100 mph on the Beltway in 2012. Mr. Baker said his administration has tightened executive use of county vehicles, but doesn’t police the legislature. Other Washington area jurisdictions have more stringent policies on the use of vehicles. It is time for Prince George's to get in step by eliminating a perk of office that serves no public good.