MC Order 5100.19E of 29 Dec 00. Ch 2. Marine Corps Traffic Safety Program
This MARADMIN announces Change 2 to Marine Corps Order 5100.19E, the Marine Corps Traffic Safety Program, implementing four key updates: prohibiting handheld cellular phone use while driving on installations, requiring headlights during precipitation and reduced visibility, clarifying reflective clothing requirements for physical training near roadways, and establishing standardized minimum penalties for seatbelt violations (ranging from one-week to six-month driving privilege suspensions). These changes apply to all Marine Corps activities and are effective immediately.
Issued: May 9, 2003
1. PURPOSE. THIS MARADMIN DIRECTS PEN CHANGES TO THE BASIC ORDER. THIS CHANGE IS APPLICABLE TO ALL MARINE CORPS ACTIVITIES (PCN 1020726801 DISTRIBUTION). 2. BACKGROUND. A. MARINE CORPS ORDER 5100.19E REQUIRES CHANGES TO ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING ISSUES THAT PERTAIN TO MARINE CORPS TRAFFIC SAFETY. (1) CELLULAR PHONE USE WHILE DRIVING (2) USE OF HEADLIGHTS WHEN THERE IS PRECIPITATION (3) GUIDANCE ON THE WEARING OF REFLECTIVE CLOTHING (4) STANDARDIZED SEATBELT ENFORCEMENT ON USMC INSTALLATIONS 3. ACTION. THE FOLLOWING CHANGES SHALL BE MADE TO THE BASIC ORDER: A. TO ENCLOSURE (2), PARA 5, ADD NEW PARA AS FOLLOWS: "5C. OPERATORS OF PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLES ON MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS SHALL NOT USE CELLULAR PHONES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION, UNLESS THEY ARE USING A HANDS-FREE DEVICE. A HANDS-FREE DEVICE IS A FEATURE THAT IS INCLUDED OR AVAILABLE WITH MOST OF TODAY'S CELLULAR TELEPHONES THAT PERMITS A DRIVER TO USE THE TELEPHONE WITHOUT LIFTING OR HOLDING THE HANDSET TO THE DRIVER'S EAR." B. TO ENCLOSURE (2), PARA 5 ADD NEW PARA AS FOLLOWS: "5D. ON ALL INSTALLATIONS, VEHICLES WILL BE OPERATED WITH HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON DURING PERIODS OF PRECIPITATION AND OTHER REDUCED VISIBILITY CONDITIONS, WHETHER OR NOT IT IS REQUIRED BY STATE OR NATIONAL LAW. EXAMPLES ARE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DURING PERIODS OF LIGHT OR HEAVY RAIN, OR DURING PERIODS OF OBSCURATION DUE TO FOG OR SMOKE." C. TO ENCLOSURE (2), PARA 10C, ADD AFTER "DURING PERIODS OF REDUCED VISIBILITY" THE FOLLOWING: "AND BEFORE MORNING COLORS AND AFTER EVENING COLORS," AND ADD AT THE END OF THE SAME SENTENCE "WHEN CONDUCTING PHYSICAL TRAINING OR EXERCISING ON OR NEAR ROADWAYS." D. TO ENCLOSURE (2), PARA 14, ADD NEW PARA L: "MINIMUM PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO WEAR SEATBELTS ON A MARINE CORPS INSTALLATION WILL BE: (1) FOR FIRST VIOLATION, A ONE WEEK SUSPENSION OF DRIVING PRIVILEGES PLUS ATTENDANCE AT A SATURDAY FOUR-HOUR REMEDIAL DRIVING CLASS FOCUSED ON SAFETY BELTS. (2) FOR SECOND VIOLATION, ONE MONTH SUSPENSION OF DRIVING PRIVILEGES. (3) FOR THIRD VIOLATION, 6-MONTH SUSPENSION OF DRIVING PRIVILEGES." CHANGE ORIGINAL PARA L TO PARA M. 4. SUMMARY OF CHANGES. THE ABOVE CHANGES CONTAIN GUIDANCE AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF CELLULAR PHONES WHILE DRIVING AND THE USE OF HEADLIGHTS DURING PRECIPITATION. ADDITIONAL DIRECTION IS PROVIDED TO CLARIFY REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING THE WEARING OF REFLECTIVE CLOTHING. LASTLY, THESE CHANGES ESTABLISH STANDARDIZED MINIMUM PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO WEAR SEATBELTS ON MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS. 5. FILING INSTRUCTIONS. FILE THIS CHANGE TRANSMITTAL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SIGNATURE PAGE OF THE BASIC BULLETIN. 6. MCO 1500.19E W/CH 1 IS UNDER REVISION. CHANGES TO THE ORDER, INCLUDING THE AFOREMENTIONED CHANGES, WILL BE REVIEWED IN LIGHT OF RECENT SUGGESTIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES. THE REVISION WILL BE STAFFED CORPS-WIDE WITHIN THE THIRD QUARTER. THE RELEASE OF THE REVISED ORDER IS ESTIMATED NLT 1 OCT 03.