Comply with base speed limits ... or else!

  • Published
  • By John Cochran
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Kirtland Air Force Base, NM --  Col. Matthew Bartlett, 377th Mission Support Group commander, has one simple message for all drivers on Kirtland AFB: "Comply with the posted speed limits ... or else!"

"We have speed limits on base to protect all of us from driving so fast that we put others in danger. The posted limit near the gates for outbound traffic is 15 mph. That limit is also in place to ensure the safety of our posted gate guards, who work in very close proximity to both inbound and outbound traffic. We know that people are eager to get to lunch or go home at the end of the workday. We purposely set the speed limit low to help drivers focus on what they're doing, so they'll take it easy on their way off base. Kirtland is a military installation ... all of us need to know and follow the rules. Compliance with the base speed limits is not optional," he said.

The 377th Air Base Wing Staff Judge Advocate, Maj. Stephen Edward See, explained what the "or else" means for speeders at Kirtland.

"Speeding on base for military members is Dereliction of Duty, a violation of Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Military members caught speeding are given a citation that is forwarded to their commander. Commanders have authority to use all administrative and disciplinary tools available to deal with the infraction. Options include a verbal counseling, a letter of reprimand or for repeat offenders and serious cases, an Article 15 or a court-martial.

Civilians caught speeding on base face prosecution in Federal Magistrate Court and significant fines. The amount of the fines varies depending on the rate of speed and the location of the violation," he said.