MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- ‘It’s just one ticket. No one is going to find out. I will just pay it, and it will go under the radar.’ This is what can go through the mind of a Marine after he is stopped for a traffic violation off base. He was wrong.
The Provost Marshal’s Office aboard Camp Lejeune is immediately informed of traffic violations committed off base by service members, family members and at times civilian employees.
“It is common knowledge for Marines to inform their chain-of-command if anything bad happens,” said Staff Sgt. Keith Deisenroth, staff noncommissioned officer in charge for the Base Traffic Court, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. “If a Marine or their dependent receives a traffic violation, it’s something they have to report to us within 72 hours.”
To report an incident, a Marine must first inform his chain-of-command. After informing his command, he is then required to report to the Traffic Court in Building 60. Some Marines may think they can get by and not have to tell their commands they were pulled over for reckless or drunk driving.
However, Camp Lejeune has a police report (the blotter) that goes out to the installation’s commands informing them of all traffic violations.
Once the command receives the blotter and sees their Marine on it, the Marine can receive a non-judicial punishment, page-11 entry in their service record book or if the command chooses they can have that Marine court martialed, said Cpl. Adris Hasan, a legal clerk with Combat Logistics Regiment 27.
Another potential consequence of a traffic violation is the loss of base-driving privileges. According to Base Order 5560.2M law enforcement reports of careless or reckless driving off-base will invoke a 90-day suspension of driving privileges on base.
The order also notes that the command inspector and Base Traffic Court can determine when to suspend a motorist’s driving privileges.
Although the consequences for reckless driving may seem harsh to some, reporting it to their command is something that is required of all Marines.
“One way or another the Marine Corps is going to find out,” said Deisenroth. “It doesn’t matter if it happened right off-base or in Colorado. It’s much better if a Marine tells his superiors instead of his superiors pulling him aside.”
For more information or questions contact the Traffic Court at 451-1071.