MORE Q’S ON DETAIL

Justification of Blaz’s use of NYPD on prez trail hit

A key legal opinion City Hall cited as justification for Mayor de Blasio’s use of NYPD security during his failed presidential campaign does not answer critical questions about why taxpayers should foot the bill.

A spokeswoman for the mayor pointed to a 2009 decision by the city Conflicts of Interests Board in response to questions about the NYPD Executive Protection Unit cops who accompanied de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray during his five-month long campaign. The Daily News exclusively reported on Monday that a snapshot of NYPD travel expenses shows that the detail likely cost taxpayers more than $240,000.

The COIB decision found that elected officials, such as the mayor, do not have to reimburse taxpayers for any use of a city-issued car and security personnel “whether for official or for personal purposes.”

But civil rights attorney Norman Siegel says the document does not give de Blasio a free pass for taxpayer-funded security while applying for a different job. He’s calling on the mayor to reimburse the city for the cost of NYPD security while on the campaign trail.

“This opinion is not applicable to the expenses and costs of Mayor de Blasio’s campaign for president of the United States,” Siegel said.

“If they’re relying on this, I think they’re in trouble.”

He noted that the opinion did not mention airfare, hotels, meals and rental vehicles — all of which contributed to the hefty cost of NYPD security on de Blasio’s campaign. The opinion also explicitly noted that security personnel should not

“transport members of the official’s family to and from their own daily pursuits.”

The News previously reported that the Department of Investigation is probing de Blasio’s use of the detail for his children. The agency is also investigating the cost of NYPD security on the campaign, sources say.

The Conflicts of Interest opinion concludes by stating that an elected official should consult the Board if his or her use of city vehicles or security do not fit within clear guidelines. City Hall said it would not disclose whether de Blasio had sought guidance about his NYPD detail accompanying him on the campaign trail.

“Obviously our read of the opinion is different than Norm’s,” a City Hall spokeswoman said.

CHARLIE NEIBERGALL/AP An attorney says justification for use of NYPD to provide security for Mayor de Blasio during presidential run is “not applicable.”