MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Residents and guests of Japan will face tougher driving under influence laws in September.
In June, the Japanese government passed laws that not only target those who drink and drive off-base, but also people who provide alcohol or vehicles to intoxicated drivers who may get behind the wheel.
"Our procedures have not changed with regard to how we process Drinking Under the Influence incidents on base," said Maj. Scott Sanford, 35th Security Forces Squadron commander. "The Japanese law (when it becomes effective) provides for additional and more stringent penalties for those involved in drinking and driving incidents off base.
People who are involved in a DUI incident off base will likely be subject to Japanese laws and prosecution, he said.
"People must stop and think about the serious consequences of drinking and driving," said the major. "The costs are simply too high for members of the Misawa team, both in terms of fines and the damage to their career but most importantly the potential to do grave harm to themselves and others on the roadways."
For example, the maximum penalty for a drunken driver increases from three to five years in jail. Vehicle owners who let another person who has been drinking drive their car can be held responsible and spend five years in jail and receive an $8,000 fine, according to a Stars and Stripes report.
Off base, the Japanese have the primary right of jurisdiction over traffic offenses, said base legal officials.
"Any Status of Forces Agreement member driving off base will be as exposed to the full implications of the laws as would a Japanese citizen", said Lt. Col. Randon Draper, 35th Fighter Wing Judge Advocate. "The SOFA only protects the member with some of the procedural aspects of a case being prosecuted in the Japanese system, but does not limit or reduce exposure to any of the possible punishments."
Several other changes include jail time and fines for sober people who let an intoxicated person drive.
The new laws are:
-- Hit and run - 10 years in jail, 1 million yen fine (about $8,000)
-- Driving While Intoxicated (blood alcohol content of .08 or higher) - 5 years in jail, 1 million yen fine (about $8,000)
-- Driving Under the Influence (blood alcohol content of .03 to .07) - Up to three years in jail, 500,000 yen fine (about $4,000)
-- Provide a vehicle to a person with DWI - Up to five years in jail, 1 million yen fine
-- Provide a vehicle to person with DUI - Up to three years in jail, 500,000 yen fine
-- Provide alcohol to a person who is driving - Up to two years in jail, 500,000 yen fine
-- Passenger who knows driver has been driving (DWI)- Up to three years in jail, 500,000 yen fine
-- Passenger who knows driver has been drinking (DUI) - Up to two years in jail, 300,000 yen fine
-- Refusing a roadside alcohol test - Up to three months in jail, 500,000 yen fine
(Source: Yokosuka Naval Base safety office)