Base set to eliminate vehicle registration requirement

  • Published
  • By Derek Kaufman
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Those familiar blue and white Department of Defense registration stickers for privately owned vehicles will soon become a memory. 

"Effective Sept. 3, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base will discontinue registration of privately owned vehicles," said Lt. Col. Mike Reiner, 88th Security Forces Squadron commander. 

Pass and Registration will not issue any more decals, but will continue to issue visitor's passes to those who are not in possession of a Department of Defense identification card, which will be the primary proof of authorization to enter the installation, Reiner said. 

The change will eliminate the need for all military members, retirees and their family members, as well as base civilian employees with DOD identification to obtain a DD Form 2220, Vehicle Registration Decal and affix it to their windshield. 

Col. Colleen Ryan, 88th Air Base Wing commander approved the initiative, part of an effort to save critical Air Force funds and to streamline administrative processes. 

Issue of handicap decals and rank insignia decals will also be discontinued under this initiative. 

From an Air Force Smart Operations 21 perspective, eliminating the local registration procedure just made sense, Reiner said. 

After September 11, 2001, all DOD installations modified security procedures to require 100 percent identification checks of drivers at installation gates. The use of vehicle decals for entry authorization became redundant since identification checks are more stringent, said Staff Sgt. Justin Ames, NCOIC of Pass & Registration here.

Security Forces personnel also now have access to the National Law Enforcement Terminal System, which allows them to access all pertinent driver and vehicle information with a quick computer query using the vehicle's license plate number, according to Ames. 

"The decals are an expensive duplication of state registration and licensing," Ames said, adding the Air Force spends hundreds of thousands of dollars annually procuring and issuing them. 

In 2006, over 25,000 decals were issued by Wright-Patterson AFB, costing in excess of $55,000, Ames said. 

"Discontinuing the issue of base decals will not degrade the security of the installation's entry control program and will not put the base at risk," Reiner said. "It will streamline administrative processes within the 88th Security Forces Squadron at a significant cost savings to the Air Force." 

Ames said the vehicle decals also pose a potential force protection vulnerability. They immediately identify military personnel driving off base, making them potential targets for domestic terrorists. 

Personnel driving on the installation are still required to have in their possession proof of current vehicle registration, a valid state driver's license, and proof of current vehicle insurance. Motorcyclists will still need to comply with base safety standards and complete required training before being allowed to ride on Wright-Patterson AFB. Security Forces will check for compliance with these requirements randomly at the installation gates and during traffic enforcement. 

Some challenges are anticipated for Wright-Patterson personnel attempting to enter other service military installations. Without decals, they may be required to obtain a visitor's pass. 

"If you have a current vehicle decal, you can leave it on your vehicle. Drivers who frequently visit other service installations should consider registering their vehicle at that installation," Reiner said. 

Authorized contractor employees with DOD identification cards similarly will no longer require vehicle registration stickers.

Contractors who do not possess DOD identification cards, as well as base visitors and other non-DoD affiliated personnel are still required to be issued a temporary visitors pass, sponsored onto the installation or escorted onto the base, as appropriate. Air Force Form 75 temporary visitors passes are issued at the Pass and Registration section, Bldg 286, Area A at 4185 Logistics Avenue, telephone 257-6506.

Contractor delivery vehicles must still enter Gate 16A, off of State Route 444 in Fairborn, Ames said.

"This change will be seamless to most base personnel," Ames added. "It will actually save them time by not having to run around to get decals."