ELECTRIC CORPORATION V. GRAND RIVER DAM AUTHORITY, 720 P.2D 713 (OKLA.1986):
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES MUST EXERCISE GREAT CARE TO AVOID EVEN THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY IN THEIR DUTIES: FOR THEY, LIKE CAESAR'S WIFE, MUST BE ABOVE REPROACH.
MOREOVER, THE COURT NOTED THAT IT IS THE:
"PUBLIC POLICY OF THE STATE . . . THAT NO STATE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE MAY ENGAGE IN ANY TRANSACTION WHICH IS IN SUBSTANTIAL CONFLICT WITH THE PROPER DISCHARGE OF PUBLIC DUTIES OR PUBLIC INTEREST."
ID. AT 716.
IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER A VIOLATION OF ARTICLE XV, SECTION 1 OF THE OKLAHOMA CONSTITUTION OR 74 O.S. 840.32 (1992), OCCURRED, IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO ASCERTAIN THE INTENT OF THE PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE TRANSACTION. THIS MAY BE ESTABLISHED FROM, AMONG OTHER THINGS, COMMENTS MADE BY THE GIVER OR RECIPIENT OF TRAVEL GRATUITIES, OR WHETHER GRATUITIES OTHER THAN TRAVEL WERE PROVIDED. AT SOME POINT, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO STATE THAT THE INFERENCE OF IMPROPRIETY HAS BECOME SO STRONG THAT THE FACT OF A VIOLATION OF THOSE PROHIBITIONS IS ESTABLISHED.
IT IS, THEREFORE, THE OPINION OF THE UNDERSIGNED THAT A COUNTY OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE WOULD NOT VIOLATE THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE XV, SECTION 1 OF THE OKLAHOMA CONSTITUTION OR 74 O.S. 840.32 (1992) BY THE ACCEPTANCE OF TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATIONS TO A VENDOR'S PLACE OF BUSINESS IN ORDER TO INSPECT OR VIEW THE VENDOR'S PRODUCT UNLESS SUCH TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATIONS ARE ACCEPTED BY A COUNTY OFFICER FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE IMPROPER PERFORMANCE OR NON-PERFORMANCE OF THE COUNTY OFFICER'S OFFICIAL DUTIES.
WHETHER THE ACCEPTANCE OF TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATIONS BY A COUNTY OFFICER IN A GIVEN SITUATION IS FOR AN IMPROPER PURPOSE IS A QUESTION OF FACT WHICH CAN BE ANSWERED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS ONLY.
(JAMES ROBERT JOHNSON)