JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Airman, Soldiers and Sailors who have deployed are well aware of the lengthy checklist to complete, and security measures to be taken to ensure their families and belongings are safe and sound in their absence.
The laundry list of financial to do's and legal considerations may leave some service members forgetting one key detail, a smart place to park their vehicle.
Recently, law enforcement officers here have mistaken deployer's vehicles parked on base for extended periods of time, for abandoned vehicles.
In these situations, the owner can be ticketed, fined and left asking, "Dude... Where's my car?", when they return from their deployment.
"If you leave your vehicle parked on base while you're on a deployment, park it in the long-term parking lot across from the passenger terminal on Menoher St." said Staff Sergeant Deon Grady, 11th Security Forces law enforcement officer. "That is the lot directly across the street from the passenger terminal."
Vehicles must maintain a current registration to have a space in the long-term parking lot, Grady said. Additionally, leaving a spare set of keys with a trusted point of contact is highly recommended.
Service members can also have their vehicle stored at the Baltimore Vehicle Processing Center, or shipped from there to their deployed location.
In order to do this, the member must have approved funding from their command on their orders, and a letter from the Travel Management Office here.
Jimmy King, BVPC contracting office representative, said there are many benefits to storing vehicles with the establishment located on 2501 Bronning Highway in Baltimore, Md.
"We really take care of the vehicles left with us," King said. "The climate is controlled in our building year round. Once a month, we start the vehicles to keep the engine running smooth and we also drive the vehicle out of the parking space and right back in it, just long enough to rotate the wheels."
In short, leaving your vehicle parked in a questionable location on base can get your car ticketed. Fines could possibly come with that ticket. "And then?" The vehicle may even get towed and impounded. And dude, that's not so sweet.
Finding secure parking can save costs and give the peace of mind needed to focus on the assigned mission.
To be proactive, service members can contact the following offices:
Law enforcement can be reached at (301)981-8575; and the number for the TMO here is (301)981-7520. To reach BVPC, please call (410) 631-5751.