No cell phones while you drive

  • Published
  • By Susan Burritt
  • Nucleus journalist
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Cities around the country have done it, Santa Fe has done it and so has Kirtland. If you are driving, you must use a hands-free device to talk on your cell phone or risk getting a citation.

For civilians stopped for violating this rule, they will be issued a DD Form 1805, U.S. District Court Violation Notice for Careless Driving, and be required to appear in federal court in downtown Albuquerque. Although the violation is a misdemeanor, the federal judge determines the amount of the fine.

If a military member is stopped, they will be issued an AF Form 1408, Armed Forces Traffic Ticket, and be required to report the citation to their commander or first sergeant within 24 hours or next duty day. The punishment is determined by the commander or first sergeant. However, the installation commander has the authority to suspend base driving privileges at any time if warranted.

"This push is coming from the base population. A lot of complaints are coming in to the commander's Airmail hotline from the base community that are seeing people driving while talking on their cell phones and they want something done about it," said Master Sgt. Peter Housh with the 377th Security Forces Squadron. At this time, it is only the law enforcement personnel and fire department that are except from this regulation.

"We have a waiver for emergencies. We only have one channel and when that gets clogged up, we use the cell phones," Sergeant Housh said. This situation will soon be remedied. Lt. Col. Rothrock, 377th Security Forces Commander, has directed the purchase of hands-free devices for all police units. Once these are in the possession of the security forces here, they will no longer be allowed to use a cell phone without a handsfree device.

Drivers who don't have hands-free capability and have a need to use their cell phones can still obey the regulation by safely pulling off the road and then attending to their calls.

There will be a push to enforce the regulations more strictly, according to security forces staff.

This policy, which is part of the Department of Defense's Joint Traffic Guidance, went into effect here on April 4. It also applies to all government owned vehicles at all times, on or off base.

The DOD's joint traffic document states:

"Vehicle operators on a DOD Installation and operators of government owned vehicles shall not use cell phones unless the vehicle is safely parked or unless they are using a hands-free device."

Drivers who violate this cell phone driving restriction will be given three assessment points against their driving records or an appropriate fine.