MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Remaining vigilant and safe are responsibilities all drivers must account for to prevent needless mistakes, but the damage to lives and careers from driving under the influence can be considerable even if no one is hurt.
Peter B. Davis, the Camp Pendleton Base Magistrate explained that most drivers entering the gates don't know that Marine Corps installations have a lower blood alcohol percentage allowance than the areas that surround them.
"A driver might pass a breath test out in town with a .05 BAC reading, then drive aboard the base, blow the same BAC, but if they fail a field sobriety test, they can be arrested for DUI," said Davis. "Whether on base or out in town really doesn't matter for my office. If you get a DUI, you aren't driving on base for at least one year."
According to MCO 5110.1D, a BAC of .05 but less than .08 can mean the driver is impaired, and considered with other evidence, such as failing the field sobriety test, they can then be charged with a DUI.
Many Marines and Sailors also ignore the effects of drinking excessively and traveling the next day explained John J. Veneziano, Director of the Consolidated Substance Abuse Center aboard Camp Pendleton.
"Something many people don't consider when driving the next day after drinking the night before is that even if they slept a few hours and feel relatively sober, they could still be over the legal limit," said Veneziano.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol can begin to affect judgment even with as little as two drinks, which may include choosing to drive after drinking alcohol.
"Nationally, people that are arrested for a DUI their first time have said that prior to the arrest they had driven under the influence of alcohol roughly 60 times," Veneziano said. "This can obviously mean that some people are caught their first or second time, but with that, the average also shows that some people have driven under the influence of alcohol far more than 60 times."
Staff Sgt. Adam K. Brackney who is the Marine Liaison for Vista Traffic Court said that seven Camp Pendleton personnel were arrested in North San Diego County for DUI and two service members were jailed for public drunkeness over the Super Bowl weekend. Brackney explained that service members can be arrested off-base for other alcohol-related offenses too.
"I would say at least half of the arrests are for DUI, and unfortunately there are also a large number [of personnel] arrested for domestic assault." Brackney said. "Only a few are picked up for other offenses such as breaking and entering, or being drunk in public."
Athough the blood alcohol limit can be lower on base, the punishment only compounds when a Marine is arrested off base, Davis explained.
"Out in town you will see more punishment for the same crime. First you will go to jail, and be sentenced by a civilian judge. Depending upon which state had issued your license, you may have it suspended or revoked completely. On base, you will lose your driving privileges for at least a year, and your commanding officer will probably take you to office hours or a court martial," said Davis.
The National Traffic Highway Safety Committee says designated drivers are effective because many of the risks related to impaired driving are removed and that designated driver programs help convey impaired driving prevention messages to the community, and illustrate the number of ways communities can encourage safe and sober driving practices.