Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 2 Eng; Retractable Gear
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 1
Distraction; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Runway
Human Factors; Procedure
Vehicle X plus 2 were conducting a runway inspection of runway 33.  Aircraft X was inbound for landing runway 33.  The three vehicles passed the runway edge prior to Aircraft X crossing the runway threshold. But were not passed the hold short line; therefore were still in the runway safety area according to the runway safety council. We were notified that it was a runway incursion. I was not aware that this was considered a runway incursion. I am basing my decision off of the 7110.65 definition of what 'clear of the runway' meant. I did not realize that vehicles were not included under this rule.Clear of the runway?a. Taxiing aircraft; which is approaching a runway; is clear of the runway when all parts of the aircraft are held short of the applicable runway holding position marking.b. A pilot or controller may consider an aircraft; which is exiting or crossing a runway; to be clear of the runway when all parts of the aircraft are beyond the runway edge and there are no restrictions to its continued movement beyond the applicable runway holding position marking.c. Pilots and controllers shall exercise good judgement to ensure that adequate separation exists between all aircraft on runways and taxiways at airports with inadequate runway edge lines or holding position markings.We were notified that we are not allowed to use the runway edge as clear of the runway regardless if the person exiting the runway was an aircraft or vehicle or personnel. I'm not sure why this was considered a runway incursion according to the runway safety council.They say if any aircraft or vehicle or personnel is in the safety area then no aircraft can land or depart until they are removed from the safety area then this definition should be removed from the 7110.65 as it was misleading. Or I would hope that vehicles would be added to this definition.Vehicles should be added to the definition for future reference. Or it should be removed because by following the rule even with an aircraft as it states would be considered a runway incursion under their guidelines.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
HSV controllers reported of a runway incursion involving a vehicle. The controllers just thought that vehicles had to be clear of the runway and did not realize that vehicles had to be on the safe side of the hold short bars.