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                         May 24, 2002

USAREUR changes drivers' license policy

HEIDELBERG, Germany (Army News Service) -- Soldiers and civilians arriving in Germany can no longer use a military driver’s license as the basis for obtaining a license to drive a privately owned vehicle.

Drivers must now possess a valid U.S. state drivers license or country license in order to obtain a U.S. Forces POV Certificate of License and operate a private auto off post, according to officials at the U.S. Army Europe Office of the Provost Marshal.

The rules for registering and driving private vehicles in Germany were updated for the second time this year April 17, said Tom Lorenzini, registrar at the U.S. Forces Vehicle Registry.

"The changes became necessary to clarify certain procedures and implement safety and security initiatives," Lorenzini said.

Lorenzini described the three major changes affecting U.S. vehicle owners and drivers in USAREUR:

1. Individuals will no longer be permitted to use a military license (OF 346) in lieu of a valid state or country license to obtain a U.S. Forces Privately Owned Vehicle Certificate of License for any class. Lorenzini said this procedure was cancelled on the recommendation of the USAREUR Safety Targeting Board in order to reduce accidents caused by drivers who are too inexperienced to master driving in Germany. The USAREUR policy is now in line with the other DoD components, who also require service members to have either a stateside or host nation civilian license to operate POVs outside U.S. installations.

2. The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Program has been renamed by the Army and Air Force. The Army’s new name is Army Substance Abuse Program and the Air Forces’ new name is Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment. Individuals who commit an alcohol-related driving offence must complete one of these programs to get their U.S. Forces Privately Owned Vehicle Certificate of License returned.

3. Individuals with a record of three alcohol-related driving offences will be prohibited from ever obtaining a U.S. Forces Privately Owned Vehicle Certificate of License.

USAREUR Regulation 190-1, USNAVEUR Instruction 11240.6L or USAFE Instruction 31-202, Registering and Operating Privately Owned Motor Vehicles in Germany, prescribes policy and procedures for licensing POV drivers and registering POVs in Germany under the Supplementary Agreement to the NATO Status of Forces Agreement. Service members, civilian employees and family members in Germany who are authorized a U.S. Forces Certificate of License and POV registration are covered by this regulation.

More information can be obtained from the USAREUR Vehicle Registration hotline on DSN 386-7271 or online at http://rmv.hqusareur.army.mil.

Editor’s note: Information taken from a USAREUR News Release.