ADC - Revocation and reinstatement of driving privileges

AREA DEFENSE COUNSEL
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La.
FACT SHEET ON REVOCATION AND RESTORATION OF BASE DRIVING PRIVILEGES


1. Your commander may revoke or suspend your on-base driving privileges under AFI 31-204 for moving traffic violations, assessment of points on-base, and driving while intoxicated or refusing to submit to a breath test. This fact sheet is designed to give you information concerning your rights and options if your commander should decide to do so.

2. If either the Wing Commander or his designee, the Support Group Commander, elects to suspend or revoke your on-base driving privileges, they must comply with certain procedures under AFI 31-204. These steps are laid out and include giving written notice of intent to revoke, and offering an opportunity to respond in which you can present evidence on your behalf. In cases involving a DWI, commanders are empowered to immediately suspend your driving privileges.

3. It is generally a good idea to respond in writing and present the evidence you have. This might include statements from witnesses to show that you did not commit a traffic violation, statements from co-workers to show you are safety conscious on the job, or court records to show that a particular citation has been nullified, revoked or withdrawn. You should route any written presentation through your chain of command to the Support Group Commander, 2 SPTG/CC, via the Reports and Analysis Section of the Security Forces Squadron, 2 SFS/SPAR. If you have any questions about where to bring your documents or the status of your case, call SPAR at 6-4270.

4. After your written presentation, the Support Group Commander will decide whether or not to revoke your driving privileges and your military driver's license. If he does, you have the right to appeal that decision within 10 duty days. To submit an appeal, you need to gather together any statements or documents that may not have been considered at first. Then attach them to your appeal statement indicating why your base driving privileges should not be revoked and forward the package through your chain of command to the Support Group Commander.

5. The support Group Commander may defer execution and grant a restricted driving privilege or a probation if he determines that suspension or revocation would result in an adverse military mission impact, unusual family hardship, or be detrimental to the effectiveness of an ongoing drug or alcohol rehabilitation program. You may, for example, wish to request limited driving privileges to be able to drive to and from work only, or to transport your dependents to and from medical appointments or child care. The limitations of the restricted driving privilege (authorization to drive to and from place of employment/duty, and/or selected installation facilities, i.e., hospital, commissary within specified time period) and conditions of the probation will be specified in writing and provided to you, if approved.

6. Most people have their driving privileges revoked because of DWI. It does not matter whether the DWI occurs on-base or off-base. As soon as the Security Forces learn of a DWI (and they usually learn about all of them from civilian police departments), your privileges will be revoked.

7. Bottom line: You have little chance of getting even limited driving privileges restored through the presentation process. Unless you cannot do the mission or have a true family problem, you will have to get a ride to work or walk. It is a great inconvenience for one year, but the attitude is that DWI is very serious and you should have known better.

8. Read the revocation letter very carefully. You don't automatically get your privileges back after the period of revocation or suspension expires. You must request approval to drive again. Don't start driving without approval, even if your suspension says its okay. Don't think you can sneak onto base just once either. Many individuals have been caught driving again and have been given Article 15s for violating the commander's order not to drive on base. Don't risk it.