PITTSBURGH -- More than 5,000 state employees get take-home cars with free gas and maintenance.

And every year, those cars cost taxpayer millions of dollars to maintain.

Democratic state Rep. Chelsa Wagner drives a 2001 Jeep Cherokee, even though she could use a state car for free.

Wagner said, "I pledged to my constituents that I would drive my own car and I think that's a way for an elected official to show leadership in this area."

Many state cars go to law enforcement and public safety, but Target 11 found that other agencies benefit as well. For instance, the Historical and Museum Commission has nine take-home cars. The Bureau of Labor and Industry gets 55, and the auditor general's office gets 282.

Target 11 investigator Rick Earle asked Gov. Ed Rendell if the cars were necessary.

Rendell said, "It depends, and we have dramatically reduced the size of our fleet."

Despite that claim by Rendell, the state still has more than 13,000 vehicles costing more than $17 million to maintain.

During the past five years, the state has cut 1,000 cars and it's buying more fuel-efficient vehicles.

According to state policy, most of the take-home vehicles are only to be used for official state business. But Target 11 found that at least 391 state employees, not including law enforcement, have state vehicles with confidential plates. And they're allowed to drive those for personal use.

State workers are required to keep track of the mileage and pay the IRS tax. But in this tight economy comma Democratic state Sen. Wayne Fontana wonders if workers should pay more period

"It's always good to re-evaluate it with the costs of gas, with the costs of automobiles today," Fontana said." "Certainly that's something we should look at."

Last year the governor of Maryland eliminated all take-home cars for his staff members.

Fourteen members of Rendell's staff have cars. He defended them and said he has no plans to eliminate the policy.