Latest News from MCB Camp Lejeune
Public Notice: Base sets Destructive Weather Condition IV to prepare for Hurricane Earl
As of 8 a.m. September 2, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune continues to be in Destructive Weather Condition IV and Force Protection Condition Alpha. As severe weather approaches, military personnel and civilian employees of MCB Camp Lejeune and Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune should call the severe weather information line at (910) 451-1717 for work status and destructive weather condition updates and continue to monitor this website and local media outlets for the latest information concerning this severe weather event.
Destructive Weather Resources:
• Ready.gov: Hurricane Preparedness Checklist - Click here to access this useful website with important information and guidance on how to prepare you and your family for a hurricane.
• National Hurricane Center Storm Forecast - Click here to access this useful website to see the latest forecast track for Hurricane Earl.
Camp Lejeune to start aggressive driving campaign
Lance Cpl. Victor A. Barrera, Marine Corps Base
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Starting Monday, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and satellite installations will begin an aggressive driving campaign to reduce and hopefully eliminate unsafe driving practices.
The campaign will target aggressive drivers who follow too closely, drive while intoxicated, use a mobile device that is not hands-free and drive too fast.
“Our goal is to stop aggressive drivers before someone gets hurt,” said Lt. Col. Robert Stanford, the provost marshal for MCB Camp Lejeune. “It doesn't take much; only driving 25 miles per hour, a Dodge Ram flipped at the Holcomb Boulevard traffic circle.”
Statistics from 2009 showed there were 155 DWI violations, 377 seatbelt violations and 93 cases of driving 15 mph or more over the speed limit, aboard the base.
For 2010, even though the year has not yet ended, the amount of violations has already surpassed last year's. Already there are 178 cases of driving 15 mph or more over the speed limit, 397 seatbelt violations and 108 DWI violations.
“We have an accident investigation division that will be giving briefs to oncoming shifts, and we are also equipping more military policemen with radar (guns),” said 1st Lt. Christopher Marsh, officer in charge for special operations, Provost Marshal's office, MCB Camp Lejeune. “There are going to be more eyes on the roads and they'll be paying more attention to the factors that cause aggressive driving. We're not taking this lightly.”
Areas of focus include school and housing zones as well as certain physical training locations. These areas gain special attention because of the children that will soon be walking to and from school as well as service members who PT on certain roads.
“Drivers may sometimes see a group of service members running and may want to pass them up or are late for work and speed up a little - these are accidents waiting to happen,” said Stanford. “Our goal is to prevent this from happening.”
Stanford also stated that soon they will begin educating the public so that everyone is aware of what the campaign's goals are. There will be signs throughout Camp Lejeune stating locations of crosswalks so people will know where to cross.
“We're not setting people up for failure, this campaign is about everyone's safety,” said Stanford. “People need to slow down, pay attention and be courteous to other drivers and people on the roads. It's about making the base safer for everyone who lives and works aboard the base.”
Traffic Court cracks down on off-base violations
Lance Cpl. Jonathan G. Wright, Marine Corps Base
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Behind the counter of the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Traffic Court hangs a white board with various traffic violations. One of the lines reads “110 in 45 – Piney Green gate.” Marines are not immune to receiving traffic violations out in town, and when this happens, Marines do not always know what to do.
The statistic meant a Marine was pulled over for speeding, driving 65 miles over the speed limit when exiting the base gate on Piney Green Road. This may be an extreme case, but many people who work aboard the base face charges when ticketed by the Provost Marshal's Office, yet what happens during a normal day at Traffic Court?
“We average about 50 people per day in processing traffic violation tickets,” said Staff Sgt. Carlos Robayo, court official for the Camp Lejeune Traffic Court. “Of those, we get six (driving under the influence/driving while intoxicated) cases a day and seven who drive on suspended licenses, among others.”
When someone is pulled over on base, the process is pretty cut and dry; PMO writes the ticket, the Marine's command is informed and they appear in Traffic Court with a staff noncommissioned officer to process their violation.
“Some Marines either don't know they have to report off-base violations to their command or they think they can get away with it,” Robayo said.
This is why the Traffic Court has a long-standing relationship with off-base authorities to ensure every Marine law violation is processed properly. Every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, a traffic court Marine goes to the various police departments and courthouses within Onslow County to pick up copies of ticket violations involving base active-duty service members.
According to base records, there were nine DUIs, four warrants for arrest and 14 minor traffic violations from July 16 to 18. Robayo said that among other violations, Camp Lejeune averages two to three DUIs a day.
For minor traffic violations, service members and civilians may find it slightly easier to avoid having a formal entry in their driving record. Through the Jacksonville District Attorney, a defensive driving course is offered in response for exceeding a posted speed limit by no more than 20 miles per hour, following too close behind a car or failing to move for an emergency vehicle. Instead of fighting a ticket, someone may choose another option and pay an additional $50 on top of the $150 court fine.
“This is the DA giving Marines a break and sending them to class to educate them as opposed to just fining them,” said a representative of the DA's office. He continued to say how after they complete the one time, four-hour class at Coastal Carolina Community College, the DA returns to court for them, and they are done with their violation.
Those who fail to mention their off-base violations do not get off so easily. Their tickets eventually make their way back to the base traffic court to be entered into the Traffic Court's system. If the Marine fails to inform their command after 72 hours of entering the ticket information into the Traffic Court, their offense is put in the local newspapers' blotters with their name and unit information.
“Yes, the traffic office is cracking down on off-base violations, but we're also helping teach them to report any tickets they get,” said Robayo. “We're not here to (pressure) anyone, we're just making sure they all get treated equally and know what to do.”
For any information on traffic violations per the traffic court office, reference Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Base Order 5560.2M or call the traffic court at (910) 451-1951.
For more news stories, pick up a copy of the Globe at a box or newsstand near you, or read the E-Edition of the Globe online.
