Okay, to debunk this rumor...I just spoke with the friend of mine who had sent me the email,and I asked her for more information, she said that it wasn't true,that her husband had checked into it further,and the information she had been given was false, that it is indeed, E-7 that have the authorization to drive, nothing changed.

One bites the dust,now to get to the bottom of the rest :) Mwahahah..

I'm on a quest now :)

Dee :)

Dee, up until 2 1/2 years ago everyone could drive, E-5 and above anyway. This is 8th Army. It is due to the fact that someones stat's said E-6 and below recievied more vehicle violations than any other (DUI's and such).

__________________
CH-47 SI

They must find it difficult...

Those who have taken authority as the truth, rather than truth as the authority. --Gerald Massey

Just remember, when you make a blanket statment like that, (Army cannot stop a NCS spouse from getting a car and driving). You should also put in the implications that go along with that.

Most people take what they see a the "truth" and will go out and do it without realizing what could happen to them or their spouse.

__________________
CH-47 SI

They must find it difficult...

Those who have taken authority as the truth, rather than truth as the authority. --Gerald Massey

So if a Korean national who has been legally driving in Korea all his/her adult life marries a member of USFK, and subsequently gets a traffic ticket or in an auto accident ~ that person's spouse is now subject to UCMJ?

This is not some off-the-wall scenario ~ there are hundreds of such international marriages between members of USFK and local nationals every year. If what you are saying is factual, I would think people would be getting Article 15s left and right.

Please note that I said *may*.... It would be, I think, at a commander's discretion whether to punish one of his troops under UCMJ, just as most matters are. Violations of the SOFA treaty, however, are *NOT* negotiable, and consequences such as lack of legal protection,and non-payment for medical care...that's a cut and dried thing.

*However*, by assuming that the person involved in driving off base is a Korean national, we're introducing a variable into the equation that isn't in the original question..we're speaking of Non-command sponsored wives, U.S. citizens,and non-Korean national dependants in this specific instance, and there is no doubt of the consequences.

A lot of questions could come into play in the situation that you mentioned...is that Korean national an American citizen, or a Korean citizen? Not all "international brides" are full American citizens, after all, until they're naturalized. How does that affect their SOFA standing? Given that they're a Korean national, do they fall under Korean jurisdiction automatically or Korean law? There are a lot of subtle legalities in that situation that I don't claim to know, nor can I say how it would work in every situation...I'd say that in that particular situation you're speaking of, legal minds far more knowledgeable of international law and the SOFA treaty would have to be involved, and I know I certainly have no idea of what their answer might be.

All I know is that *every* dependant who bears a SOFA stamp in their passport that asserts that they're covered under the protection of the SOFA act-and yes, in this case, I would *think* it would also apply to a Korean national married to a USFK member as well if they've got that SOFA stamp.., or at least it *should*, since we should hold all spouses to the same standard in my opinion- agrees by the bearing of that stamp to abide by the regulations covered by that law...and that includes the regulations that govern driving privileges...and unless there's some exceptional protection clause that I'm aware of, then YES...even a Korean national dependant who has a traffic accident should be held to the same standards as any other dependant in the same situation, which means that they should *definitely* not have their medical care paid for, or be covered under the legal protection of SOFA.

*ANY* dependant,regardless of their birth nation, should be bound by the same rules and regulations as any other dependant... it's one of those things you agree to when you become a military dependant...and once you take those vows, and become listed *as* your husband's military dependant, you *are* a USFK dependant, regardless of nationality.

As military dependants, we *all* garner some privileges here, yes... but just as we American born wives have to give up some of the privileges *we're* normally entitled to in deference to our husband's military status (we, after all theoretically *could* get licenses, as well, the only thing stopping us *is* our dependant status and the respect for our military positions).. I would think that in all fairness.. any Korean national who becomes a military spouse should be prepared to give up some privileges as well to comply with those standards.

After all, it's not a very good American citizen..or *potential* citizen..that doesn't agree to abide by our laws.

It may be that the reason there *aren't* many situations of Article 15's left and right is that Korean nationals are actually being good citizens and abiding by the regulations that govern them in their new situation...who knows?

Just my 2 cents worth.

Dee

Your not thief until you get caught......

Also, I believe it was stated somewhere else on this site that some peoople keep several hundred WON on them just incase they get into a fender bender to pay the person off so it does not go to insurance or police...

__________________
CH-47 SI

They must find it difficult...

Those who have taken authority as the truth, rather than truth as the authority. --Gerald Massey