Marines

PMO works to dispose of abandoned vehicles on base

16 Feb 2018 | Marine Corps Base Hawaii

U.S. Marines and Sailors coming to their first duty station may want to purchase a vehicle for transportation. However, problems can arise over time that lead to some abandoning their vehicles on base.
“The abandoned vehicle situation is not just an issue for Marine Corps Base Hawaii,” said Gunnery Sgt. Morris Earnest, the Provost Marshal’s Office services chief with Headquarters Battalion, MCBH. “It affects all bases and the City and County of Honolulu. The means to get rid of vehicles are limited due to the fact that we are on an island which reduces the amount of options available to properly dispose them.”
One of the main reasons for abandoned vehicles is the purchase of “island beaters.”
“This is a vehicle that is relatively cheap, and a Marine just wants a vehicle with insurance while stationed on Oahu,” Earnest said. “However, they are unfamiliar with the registration and safety inspection process. They take the vehicle to a shop, in an attempt to get the safety inspection completed, but find out the vehicle doesn’t pass the requirements and for it to pass is going to be costly. They park the vehicle at the barracks and think ‘I will take care of it when I get the money.”
Deployment can also add to the abandoned vehicle problem.
“A lot of times as Marines leave to go on deployment they don’t really know what to do with the vehicle,” said Lance Cpl. Lawrence Harfst, a PMO impound custodian with HQBN. “They don’t store their vehicle, which it then becomes abandoned because everything’s out of date.”
Harfst said there are numerous signs indicating an abandoned vehicle.
“Usually there’s out of date safety and registration, and stuff left inside that doesn’t really look like it belongs anywhere,” Harfst said. “There are things taken apart, missing off of its doors, windows are busted out, wheels are taken off and it’s slipped on blocks.”
For vehicles that are discovered abandoned or illegally on-base, Federal law and military regulations establish that any person granted the privilege to operate a vehicle on a military installation consents to the removal, impoundment and disposal of abandoned, illegally operated, parked or registered vehicles (including reimbursement to the government for costs). Marine Corps Base Hawaii follows these regulations to locate and provide notice to owners of abandoned vehicles on the base, including ensuring the protections provided for deployed members, and in the event, the vehicle is determined to be abandoned may turn the vehicle over to MCCS for auction pursuant to regulations.
However, Earnest said it’s critical that Marines are informed to help in the prevention of adding more abandoned vehicles to the base.
“Its imperative small unit leaders stay engaged with their personnel and ensure they are assisting their personnel in making informed decisions when they decide to purchase a vehicle,” Earnest said. “Additionally, if you know personnel who have a vehicle, get intrusive and find out what they’re doing with it such as shipping it back home or selling it. Lastly, ensure that if you are buying or selling a vehicle that you complete a bill of sale which captures the buy and sellers information, and is retained which may help resolve issues that may occur in the future.”           
Marine Corps Base Hawaii