The White Falcon - 16.11.1990, Síða 1

DUi proves costly, inconvenient
By JOl(AW) Jodelle Blankenship
Acc
Wf:
Icelandic law concerning Driving Under the
Influence (DUI) is vigorously enforced both
on and off the Agreed Area.
“Unlike our military police, the Icelandic
Police (IP) do not need probable cause to stop
anyone,” said Lt. David Stritzinger, U. S.
Naval Air Station Discipline Officer.
If the Icelandic Police stop you on base, they
will immediately radio Navy Security to en-
sure that both IP and Navy Security personnel
are on scene.
According to Icelandic law, the IP can check
ion’s blood/alcohol level and charge that
dual with DUI if they have their keys in
!5 and if the Icelandic Police believe there
is intent to drive the vehicle.
At the scene, the individual may be re-
quired to perform a Breathalyzer test given by
the IP. If the test proves positive, the IP will
issue a report requesting U. S. authorities to
place the driver on Icelandic legal hold.
Subsequently, if the test proved positive the
individual will be escorted to the U. S. Naval
Hospital, here, where they are required to sub-
mit to a blood test. The hospital staff draws
three vials of blood; one for the IP, and two for
the Navy. The Icelandic Police send the blood
sample to Reykjavik to be tested while the
Navy sends the other two vials to the Labora-
tory Medical Department at the National Naval
Medical Center, Bethesda, Md.
The minimum U. S. blood/alcohol level to
be considered intoxicated is. J59 which equates
to .5 on the Icelandic scale. These minimum
limits are the same, however, the Icelandic
measuring system is based on a different scale.
“The effects of alcohol on blood/alcohol
levels are different for each person depending
on their size, sex and metabolism,” said Dr.
Hope Knauer, Family Practitioner at the Naval
Hospital. “The safest thing is not to drink if
you plan to drive.”
Ie IP will receive the test results within a
le of weeks. If the test proved to be
tive, the individual is immediately lifted
from legal hold by U. S. authorities. If the test
proved positive, the offender will be called to
the local Keflavik police station for question-
ing and will be required to write a statement.
At that time, the offender will be given a court
date.
The Icelandic Police automatically suspend
the individual’s license for a period of time.
The length of suspension depends on the blood/
alcohol level. The driver will normally be
fined according to the blood/alcohol level.
“I’ve seen individuals pay as little as $100
and as much as $ 1,000,” Stritzinger said. “The
IP have a scale and the fines are levied accord-
ing to your blood/alcohol level.”
If the offender is a member of the Armed
Forces, the civil conviction is entered into his/
her service record following the court appear-
ance.
Navy Security also receives a copy of the
civil conviction and automatically suspends
the offender’s license for one year if the blood/
alcohol level is .10 or above. If the blood/
alcohol level is between .059 and .10, Navy
Security suspends the license for the same
period of time as the Icelandic Police. Addi-
tionally, Navy Security forwards the informa-
tion, for military personnel, family members
or U. S. civilians, to the offender’s home of
record. Depending on state policy, the Divi-
sion of Motor Vehicles will take action.
“Usually, the state enters points on the
offender’s driving record and contacts their
insurance company,” added Stritzinger.
Once the fine is paid, the driver is released
from legal hold.
Summary
It’s important that all NATO Base residents
remember, “if you drink, don't drive."
“There is no excuse for DUI with the availa-
bility of taxies and the short walk home,” said
Chief Petty Officer JimD. Miner, Navy Secu-
rity Chief of Police.
First offenders are fined heavily and, in
every case, licenses are suspended for one
month to life, depending on the level of blood/
alcohol. A second conviction brings a manda-
tory jail sentence, a large fine and permanent
revocation of driving privileges in Iceland.
Security ensures safe driving on base
Chief Petty Officer Chris Daniels uses his radar gun to check the speed of NATO Base drivers.
With the holiday season coming, Security personnel are working hard to ensure that people drive
safely on the base. Last week, theU.S. Naval Air Station Security Department ticketed 13 drivers
for speeding and six for not making a complete stop. Throughout the holiday season and as the
weather changes, Security will have radar set up on a regular basis. The following is a list of
radar sites, however, their radar may be set at other times and other locations: Nov. 17 from
4 to 5 p.m. — Viking Street by Mini Mart; Nov. 19 from 7 to 8 a.m. — Bunker Hill and Coral Sea
Housing; Nov. 20 from 5 to 6 p.m. — Upper Commissary and Top of the Rock; Nov. 21 from 11
to 12 a.m. — ESPEE Housing; and Nov. 23 from 4 to 5 p.m. — NAVFAC Road.