MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Marine catches a glimpse of flashing blue lights in his rearview mirror. He crosses his fingers and hopes they’re after the car in front of him, but no such luck. He slowly pulls his vehicle to the shoulder and waits for the tap on his window. He thinks aloud, “At least it was off base, so my command won’t find out, right?” Wrong.

 Sergeant Sean Magill, a Jacksonville police officer, said it is not uncommon for their department to charge 65 to 70 people a day with traffic violations. Approximately 80 percent of Jacksonville’s population is in the military or directly related to the military, so many of these violations are made by service members and their family members.

 With the day-to-day violations, the Jacksonville police have also recently seen an alarming rise in blood alcohol levels.

 “Average levels have jumped from 0.1 to 0.2 during the past few months,” said Magill.

 Even with the rise in blood alcohol levels, speeding still remains the leading cause of fatalities in Jacksonville.

 “Speeding is the number one complaint, above all, in the community,” he said.

 Magill said the Jacksonville Police Department has agreed to report all off-base traffic violations given to active duty service members to the base traffic liaison.

 “The Beulaville Police Department is also onboard with the agreement,” said Magill.

 The liaison then informs the service member’s parent command about the citation.

 “The Base Traffic Court works closely with the Provost Marshal’s Office, Onslow County courthouse, and off-base law enforcement,” said Staff Sgt. Timothy Judd, the staff noncommissioned officer in charge of the Base Traffic Court, Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Base.

 A service member must tell their command even if the command has not been informed of the incident by PMO or off-base law enforcement. Their command should immediately contact the base traffic court to set up an appointment. If the service member doesn’t show up, their on-base driving privileges will be indefinitely revoked.

 Judd warns Marines, sailors, and family members not to hide an off-base traffic violation.

 “They’re going to get caught. Their command will find out, or we will find out,” said Judd.

 According to base traffic court statistics, service members and family members received 726 violations in Onslow County alone during January, and 198 resulted in their driving privileges being revoked.

 The commanding general’s policy states that driving on base is an administrative privilege service members and their families enjoy. However, if these privileges are abused, they can be taken away. He outlines his intent in Base Order 5560.2M.

 According to the order, officers and staff noncommissioned officers may also report unsafe driving behavior to PMO.

 “Once service members make it out the gate, they think they’re free and clear. But all it takes is an officer or staff noncommissioned officer to write down their license plate number,” said Judd.

 “The main point is, we need to work together to save Marines lives,” said Judd.

 Next time a Marine sees those ominous blue lights in his rearview mirror, he’ll know that Base Traffic Court will be waiting to see him.