U.S. serviceman arrested in Okinawa for riding minibike while under influence of alcohol

Technically you are right but that tiny amount of alcohol concentration which you can easily reach with 1 beer can give you jail time. I think zero gives the more accurate picture

Um no, that is the less accurate picture. The accurate picture is the accurate information I gave, which is that the legal limit is not zero. What you are stating is a generalized picture.

So much trash in these comments.

Driving under the influence happens all of the time in Okinawa. Okinawa has the largest rate of alcoholism in Japan due to the discounted taxes on alcohol (due to their poverty). The lack of public transportation doesn't stop people from drinking, they just drive afterwards. It's only news when a US service member does something stupid. But for every 1 service member arrested for a DUI, there were probably 100+ Japanese arrested for the same thing.

Also, those saying "most" Japanese don't want them in Okinawa, that's bull. Especially with COVID and no tourists, TONS of restaurants, bars, shops, hotels, property owners, etc. rely on the US military to survive. These young kids have no idea what to do with their money so they spend it on cars they can't even take back home, food, alcohol, shopping, strip clubs, etc.

Unlike the 'official' policy of the USMC, the 'unofficial' policy of the USMC is DRINK! DRINK! DRINK! It helps one to keep what little sanity they are allowed...

"Nippon, Japan is at the mercy of the US, because it has not demonstrated ,it can defend itself"

If the U.S. weren't using Japan as a forward attack base against China AND Russia, and just went home, and Japan were allowed to declare itself, as it should according to Article 9* of the MacArthur Constitution, NEUTRAL, it's unlikely that Japan would have to "defend itself".

Article 9

Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.

In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

I read the comments and feel surprised as how fast some people attack.

They made an infraction, dangerous one, so they must be fined/prosecuted as any other citizen.

Just because they were soldiers you don't have to use that to criticize all the group, that's quite unfair and stupid.

Only if there is data that supports that I would agree, bit it's not. I am pretty sure that there are not as many cases as everyone thinks. At the end the army is based on discipline.

But, if I am wrong and the numbers support that this is more common than expected, then there is an issue to law enforcement/law obedience. People in charge should be make responsible (again, because it's the army we talking about).

NadrewToday 11:08 am JST

His punishment will depend on his chain of command. Maybe he will

enter rehab and get a slap in the wrist.

Not even close. He will be a Private very soon. So on top of whatever the Okinawans do, he will be at the very bottom, lose pay, doing details that are pretty menial (think raking a gravel field the size of a football field, but with a very small rake). This guy and his accomplice will have time to think about this.

His punishment will depend on his chain of command. Maybe he will

enter rehab and get a slap in the wrist.

Good he was arrested. What an idiot.

@Fighto!

"Jail time and then deportation from Japan will happen, along with being kicked out of the military."

That's not going to happen. But he's not going to walk away scot-free. Here's what he's potentially looking at:

Loss of one or both of his stripes.

Restriction to base (count on it).

Additional duties (believe me, they can get creative).

He may lose his driving privileges for the rest of his stay.

Forfeiture of pay (can't drink when you're broke).

Good that he was arrested before he hurt himself or others seriously driving drunk.

Hope he learns his lesson and doesn't repeat it again.

Why isnt he and ALL US military strictly staying on base? They should not be mixing with the Japanese public and going outside of the base - nothing good can come of it.

Jail time and then deportation from Japan will happen, along with being kicked out of the military.

"The alliance is more important then 1 marine that messed up, many times serious crimes have happened, taking him back is an insult and sends the wrong message to locals.

*MUST Keep the alliance** for anything popping off in asai, so the the elite can watch it on TV from their lavish homes i.e. Maine *

Bingo, this is the code the western elite want 100%!

@strangerland

Technically you are right but that tiny amount of alcohol concentration which you can easily reach with 1 beer can give you jail time. I think zero gives the more accurate picture

...he did not think there was enough alcohol left in his system to put him over the legal limit.

Assumption is always the mother of all screw-ups. I have absolutely no sympathy for someone who drives drunk. The battalion and company commanders at the bases / camps I've worked at in the past make it very clear (both to military and civilians personnel alike) that even one drink while driving any vehicle on or off military premises, is driving under the influence - period.

This serviceman was a corporal (most likely this individual will be demoted to a private); and as mentioned, this individual's career is now in the toilet and will be lucky if he is allowed to even remain in the service. He completely owns whatever judgement is passed on him at Captain's Mass, in addition to whatever the local justice system decides to punish him with.

Strangeland, Japan has no control

Yup, this one's grassroots, coming from the people.

Strangeland, Japan has no control

You never hear a ‘Japanese person in Okinawa arrested for…’

Why would you? It wouldn't be news. There's nothing special about an individual Okinawan being arrested in Okinawa for DUI, as it's something that happens regularly. Instead, you would read about the rates of DUI in Okinawa.

When it's a serviceman however, it's not the norm, and being guests in the country under special rules, it's considered egregious, and therefore IS the type of news where you would read about a particular individual.

This really isn't a difficult concept.

This kind of story just feeds tensions and anti-foreigner feelings.

Well, in this case, anti-military. And if the military doesn't want negative feelings about them, they should control their people, who are guests in this country. If they can't handle themselves, then they shouldn't be allowed off base.

The legal limit in Japan is zero.

No it's not. It's 0.15mg per liter of breath.

Nippon, Japan is at the mercy of the US, because it has not demonstrated ,it can defend itself

The legal limit in Japan is zero. Three times zero is zero.

You never hear a ‘Japanese person in Okinawa arrested for…’ This kind of story just feeds tensions and anti-foreigner feelings.

Two DUI on a single week? that surely tell us that this is just a common thing.

For the benefit of Japan-USA relations:

Let Japan pass judgment, sent to Japanese jail. Even if Japan wants to give him back, don't take him. The alliance is more important then 1 marine that messed up, many times serious crimes have happened, taking him back is an insult and sends the wrong message to locals.

Move some of the Marines to a different location, not all, I understand China is a problem, but reduce them or replace them with SDF soldiers, especially local Okinawa SDF soldiers should be station there. Less likely for them to behave in bad ways if that is their home and country.

For a case like this, the US Military has a choice to turn the perp over to the Japanese or keep jurisdiction. Didn't harm anyone, so the Okinawan prosecutor will probably give them back to the Marines to deal with. If a local was injured or worse, then these two would be handed over and get what they get.

This guy will be facing a few months of brig/prison time, or restriction and fine plus demotion, if not kicked out of the Marines. It will not be easy for him. But the bigger result just might be some serious Marine restrictions. If not just them maybe all Servicemen in Okinawa. It sucks but it only takes a few bad apples.

Very nice.

As said, Japan is increasingly turning against the US.

Strong Japan, gambatte!

I think not USA is the father of Japan

That is why I would prefer if the US army would pack their things and go back to America. They just cause problems here.

What does the US Army have to do with this? This was a Marine who was drunk as well as the other Marine who got a DUI recently.

And here I was thinking about rapes and murders. A little bit of booze? For God’s sake, just let the man go.

Now, count how many locals / mainland / tourists that caught DUI last week. It won’t be ONE.

Did he have a Covid test too!

Are they even allow to leave the base? I though there were covid outbreaks cases inside their bases.

Letting off some steam? Next time keep it off the roads.

Isn't it ironic? These two guys probably don't want to be here. Many US servicemen don't. Most Okinawans don't want them to be here either - except the landlords who get ¥500,000 a month rent from the houses they rent out that is. They are not here for defence. So, what are all these US military doing here? They are here because they are getting a free ride from the Japanese puppet government and are too cheap to pay their own way.

Do U.S. servicemen think that they're above Japanese law when they're outside their camps?

Yes, these .0001% of the SOFA population should be utilized as the basis for what “U.S. servicemen think”

Very nice.

As said, Japan is increasingly turning against the US.

Strong Japan, gambatte!

Do U.S. servicemen think that they're above Japanese law when they're outside their camps?

I would say no, they do not think that they are above the law. They are just human like everybody else. I'm sure they will be appropriately disciplined on base.

i think they may not know the detail of the japanese law. drinking driving is serious violation in japan.

That is why I would prefer if the US army would pack their things and go back to America. They just cause problems here.

It's always the Marines from Camp Hansen. They must really getbored up there.

Do U.S. servicemen think that they're above Japanese law when they're outside their camps?

Only when they are drunk. But to be fair they do the same things back home. Ignore laws when drunk. There would be more than a few Japanese that could also be accused of breaking laws when under the influence of alcohol I'm sure.

“LotusKobeToday  05:04 pm JST

Do U.S. servicemen think that they're above Japanese law when they're outside their camps?”

they just violated the law…

Legal limit in Japan is 0. So, they had a 0.03?

Lock him up.