Texting While Operating a Motor Vehicle

Posted 12 Jan 2010
ALCOAST 012/10

SUBJ: TEXTING WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE GENERAL ORDER
A. EXECUTIVE ORDER 13513, FEDERAL LEADERSHIP ON REDUCING TEXTINGWHILE DRIVING
B. CIVILIAN PERSONNEL ACTIONS: DISCIPLINE, PERFORMANCE, ADVERSEACTIONS, APPEALS, AND GRIEVANCES, COMDTINST M12750.4 (SERIES)C. NONAPPROPRIATED FUND (NAF) PERSONNEL MANUAL, COMDTINST M12271.1(SERIES)
D. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY MANUAL, COMDTINST M16790.1 (SERIES)
E. SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MANUAL, COMDTINST M5100.47(SERIES) CH10
1. IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE DANGERS OF TEXTING WHILE DRIVING, THEPRESIDENT ISSUED REFERENCE (A) WHICH MANDATES A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT-WIDE PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF TEXTING MESSAGES WHILE DRIVING ONOFFICIAL BUSINESS OR WHILE USING GOVERNMENT-SUPPLIED EQUIPMENT.EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY REFERENCE (A) WILL BE IMPLEMENTED COAST GUARDWIDE AS FOLLOWS:
A. ALL CIVILIAN AND MILITARY MEMBERS, INCLUDING RESERVISTS IN AN ACTIVE STATUS INCLUDING IDT AND ADT, AND COAST GUARD AUXILIARISTS WHEN ASSIGNED TO DUTY, ARE ORDERED NOT TO READ, TYPE OR SEND TEXT MESSAGES OR E-MAIL WHEN DRIVING A GOVERNMENT OWNED VEHICLE, WHEN DRIVING A PRIVATE MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE ON OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT BUSINESS, OR WHEN USING ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT SUPPLIED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
B. MILITARY MEMBERS: THIS ORDER IS PUNITIVE IN NATURE AND FAILURE TO FOLLOW THIS ORDER CAN RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION UNDER ARTICLE 92 OF THE UCMJ.
C. CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING NONAPPROPRIATED FUND EMPLOYEES: FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT MAY RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REFERENCES (B) AND (C).
D. AUXILIARISTS: FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT MAY RESULT IN ADMINISTRATIVE DISCIPLINARY ACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REFERENCE (E).
E. EXCEPTIONS TO THIS ORDER: PERSONNEL MAY USE ELECTRONIC DEVICES IF THEIR VEHICLE IS SAFELY PARKED OR, FOR EMERGENCY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL: THE MESSAGES ARE CRITICAL TO SUCCESSFUL MISSION EXECUTION, STOPPING/PARKING THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE OR REASONABLE, AND THE MESSAGES ARE SENT/RECEIVED WHILE PERFORMING THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES (E.G., INCLUDING THE USE OF IN-CAR MOBILE DATA TERMINALS AND OTHER IN-CAR ELECTRONIC DEVICES).
F. FOR THE PURPOSE OF LINE OF DUTY/MISCONDUCT DETERMINATIONS, FAILURE TO TAKE PROPER VEHICULAR SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, INCLUDING COMPLYING WITH THIS ORDER, WILL BE CONSIDERED AS AN OF THE POTENTIALLY SEVERAL FACTORS DURING LINE OF DUTY/MISCONDUCT DETERMINATION. ALTHOUGH A MEMBERS FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS ORDER WILL NOT CREATE AN AUTOMATIC PRESUMPTION OF MISCONDUCT OR CAUSATION, A DETERMINATION OF NOT OF IMPORTANT FINANCIAL AND OTHER BENEFITS TO THE SERVICE MEMBER AND/OR THE SERVICE MEMBERS FAMILY.
2. THE CONTENTS OF THIS ALCOAST, INCLUDING THE PUNITIVE ASPECT OFIT, SHALL BE INCORPORATED IN A FUTURE CHANGE TO REFERENCE (D).
3. ADMIRAL THAD ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
4. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.

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