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Base cellphone usage policy changing April 1

  • Published
  • By Mike W. Ray
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Gabbing on a mobile phone while driving on Tinker Air Force Base will soon be strictly prohibited.

Effective April 1, anyone caught talking or texting on a phone while operating a motor vehicle on base -- even if you're waiting at a stop sign or a traffic signal -- will be subject to a stiff penalty.

· The penalty for a first offense of the new policy is suspension of driving privileges on the base for seven days.
· For a second offense, the penalty will be revocation of driving privileges on the installation for 30 days.
· Any motorist who violates the policy a third time will be banned from driving on base for 90 days.

"That'll mean a lot of walking, or bumming rides from somebody else," said Lt. Col. Rick Johns, deputy commander of the 72nd Mission Support Group.

Only hands-free devices will be permissible while operating a vehicle -- and the new decree is quite specific. Proper use of a hands-free device "is defined as completely hands-free," the policy stipulates. "Holding a phone and using its speaker/microphone feature is a violation of this policy," Colonel Johns said.

In the absence of a hands-free setup, "If you want to place or receive a telephone call while driving, safely pull into a parking lot or other area," Colonel Johns advised. "The minor inconvenience is preferable to a wreck."

None of the new penalties will be imposed immediately after a Security Forces officer issues a ticket. The policy provides that suspension or revocation will take place 14 calendar days after a violator receives written notice that he/she is entitled to an administrative hearing on the charge. If the driver opts to appeal the ticket, that application will stay the pending suspension or revocation for another two weeks.

Anyone who operates a vehicle while his or her driver's license is under suspension "will incur an increase in the length of the suspension by one year," the policy provides.

The prohibition against cellphone usage in a vehicle does not apply to passengers.
The new penalty structure is being imposed by Col. Steven Bleymaier, 72nd Air Base Wing and Tinker installation commander, and has been bargained with the base unions.
"It's always been prohibited to talk or text while driving at Tinker, but enforcement has been sporadic," Colonel Johns said. "Now, though, we're ramping up the penalties. Colonel Bleymaier means business."

The new policy is intended to ensure the safety and security of people and property at Tinker. For example, "We have a lot of high-value jet engines that are hauled around this base," Colonel Johns noted. "If an inattentive driver hit one of those engines, that could result in a million dollars or more in damage claims to an insurer and a serious service interruption to the warfighter."

Inattentive driving is the primary cause of traffic accidents in the U.S., Colonel Johns said.

Signs announcing the cellphone crackdown will be installed at all base entrances; a memorandum from Colonel Bleymaier outlining the provisions of the policy will be sent to all squadron commanders, urging them to spread the message among their personnel; and Colonel Bleymaier's policy memorandum will be posted on the Tinker AFB website.

"We want everyone at Tinker to be safe: children, civilians, military personnel, visitors -- everyone," the colonel said.