Driving privileges could be lost for speeding, other violations

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Any driver here who exceeds the posted speed limit by more than 10 miles per hour in base housing may face a 30-day suspension of driving privileges on the installation. The speed limit in housing is 15 miles per hour.

The policy comes from a July 2014 local supplement to Air Force Manual 31-116, Hanscom Motor Vehicle Traffic Supervision.

“Driving privilege suspensions or revocations may occur for a host of offenses or accumulation of points on an individual’s driving record,” said Maj. Joseph A. Bincarousky, 66th Security Forces Squadron commander. “Most penalties listed in the supplement have been delegated to the discretion of the air base group’s deputy commander.”

Speed limits in areas outside of base housing are normally 25 miles per hour and 20 miles per hour in a school zone.

As outlined in the Hanscom supplement, drivers may face up to a year suspension for accumulating 12 traffic points in a 12-consecutive-month period or 18 traffic points during a 24-month period.

Drivers are assessed points for more than 25 separate infractions. Points range from one point per violation to six points for more severe violations.

Additional penalties for accumulating points include a nine-month suspension for six or more parking violations in a six-month period, a six-month suspension for three or more parking violations within a 30-day period and up to a 30-day suspension for failure to remove vehicles during snow alerts on base.

According to the supplement, the traffic point system provides a uniform administrative device to impartially judge driving performance. The point system applies to military and civilian personnel operating a government vehicle while on or off the installation. Additionally, points accumulate to military members cited while driving privately owned vehicles on or off the installation.

Civilian personnel, including federal employees, contractors and all base visitors, also accumulate points for on base driving infractions while driving privately owned vehicles.

When multiple violations are committed on a single occasion, points may accumulate for each violation, according to the supplement.

“Bottom line is that any offense specifically listed in the supplement, or an accumulation of points in accordance with the point system, will be looked at for possible suspension or revocation consequences to those who violate them,” Bincarousky said.

For further information on the Hanscom supplement, call Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Starr at 781-225-5626.