U.S. Marine Arrested for Drunk Driving During Okinawa Curfew

Overview

• A 21-year-old Marine corporal from Camp Hansen was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after returning to the scene of a reported hit-and-run in Okinawa City in the early hours of Saturday, Oct. 31.
• Okinawa police said a breath test found alcohol at more than twice the legal limit and are investigating whether the Marine is linked to the reported hit-and-run.
• The arrest took place inside a 30-day U.S. military off-base curfew that began Oct. 9 as a response to a recent robbery-murder by a service member, raising questions about curfew compliance.
• Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro publicly asked U.S. forces to enforce the ban thoroughly and Tokyo and Washington have opened high-level talks to agree on stronger, verifiable steps.
• Local media and officials say the case highlights wider problems of enforcement and accountability in Okinawa, where arrests of U.S. service-related persons have been disproportionately high and the U.S. military is weighing additional discipline measures such as drink bans and possible curfew extension.