ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
Traffic on Andrews AFB is governed by two instructions, Air Force Instruction 31-204, Air Force Motor Vehicle Supervision, and our own local instruction, Andrews Air Force Base Instruction 31-205. Those two regulations govern military members operating personally owned vehicles (POVs) or government owned vehicles on the installation.
Civilians operating POVs on the installation are subject to Maryland traffic laws, just as they are off the installation.
There are two different citations that can be issued on the installation for traffic offenders; Department of Defense Form 1408, Armed Forces Traffic Ticket, and DD Form 1805, United States District Court Violation Notice.
Active Duty Military and Guard or Reserve on active status will receive a DD form 1408.
This citation has no monetary penalty for violations, but the standard reporting instructions are to report this violation to their commander and first sergeant within 24 hours or immediately upon returning to duty.
Along with having to report this violation to their chain of command, there is a base driving privilege points system against which violations are assessed, affecting the person's base driving record. AAFBI 31-205 has a point system break-down for individual violations. If a person accumulates more than 12 points in the course of one year, or 18 points in the course of two years, then their base driving privileges can be suspended by the installation commander.
There are a few exceptions for DD Form 1408s that will be issued to civilians. The first exception is for cell phone use while driving on the installation, the second is for parking violations, and the third is for civilians operating a GOV.
When a civilian is issued a parking citation via DD Form 1408, they report to the Law Enforcement Administration Office, bldg. 1845, rm. 220 and are re-issued a DD Form 1805.
A Guard or Reserve member not on active status, a civilian or DOD employee, dependent, retiree, or a contractor will receive a DD Form 1805. This citation has a monetary penalty assigned to the traffic offense as dictated by Maryland Sate Law. These range anywhere from $25 to $500 or more, with a $25 processing fee added to the citation penalty.
Violators are also subject to the same driving privileges point system as previously stated. Along with this citation violators may have a "must appear" offense, where it is required that they appear in traffic court on Andrews, at a later date to be seen in front of a magistrate judge for their violation.
The only difference between the DD Form 1805 and the DD Form 1408 is that people have the right to request a court appearance to contest the DD Form 1805.
If this option is chosen, as opposed to paying the citation, then the defendant will be guaranteed their day in court to plead their case in front of a judge. If the case is ruled in favor of the defendant, then the charges may be dropped.