LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
In an effort to free up valuable parking space and beautify Langley, the 633d Security Forces Squadron is cracking down on illegally parked vehicles across base during Operation Clean Sweep Sept. 29 and 30.
The campaign will involve security forces Airmen canvassing the installation for abandoned and otherwise illegally parked vehicles, including trailers, boats and recreational vehicles, and issuing citations. The vehicle owners will then have 72 hours to move the vehicle to an authorized parking area or face the expense and inconvenience of towing and impoundment.
Tech. Sgt. Michael Johnson, 633 SFS police services noncommissioned officer in charge, is spearheading the effort, which comes in the wake of recent concerns from base organizations affected by unauthorized parking.
"One of the concerns we heard was about people parking vehicles for sale on the auto skills center's resale lot without registering them because they didn't want to pay the selling fee," he said. "That circumvents the purpose of the lot and takes away the benefit to the center."
According to Johnson, the Airman dormitory and lodging parking lots also face the burden of abandoned and illegally parked vehicles, which deprives residents and visitors of prime parking space.
The most important part of the campaign is identifying which vehicles belong to deployed Airmen and ensuring they are not towed and impounded, Johnson explained.
"We have dorm residents that have deployed and left their vehicles in the lot, and we don't want them to be punished for no reason," he said. "The system we have developed will protect them while still accomplishing our mission."
Security forces designated the Langley Federal Credit Union parking lot across the street from 1st Fighter Wing headquarters as an authorized vehicle storage location. Vehicle owners that are unable to move their vehicle within the 72-hour time frame must contact 633 SFS police services to request a decal to identify the vehicle as accounted for. Only dorm residents are permitted to use the dormitory lots.
Police services will use vehicle identification numbers, or VINs, to identify owners. Once the owner is identified, attempts to collect information through that person's chain of command will be initiated.
Johnson said the most critical element to the success of the program is awareness and accountability.
"The squadron commanders and first sergeants have been instrumental in spreading the word and informing their Airmen about the policy," he said. "We're not looking to tow peoples' cars away. We just want to make sure people are adhering to the policies set in place to benefit everyone."
Editor's note: For more information about Operation Clean Sweep, call Tech. Sgt. Michael Johnson at 764-7766.