A new car dealership in Kaiserslautern, Germany, has taken over the building that previously housed a car dealership that is currently on the military’s off-limits list. The new company, which is not on the list, moved into the building in September 2002. (Steve Mraz / S&S)
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — U.S. servicemembers, civilians and their families will soon have an up-to-date and accurate list of businesses that have been deemed off limits in Europe by military officials.
A pair of lists set to be released next month will provide the first look in at least two years at shady businesses and individuals.
The current U.S. Army Europe off-limits list and a list covering the Kaiserslautern military community, provided by Air Force officials, have numerous inaccuracies. Both lists contain businesses that went under years ago.
The most recent off-limits list provided by USAREUR is dated Feb. 27, 2003, and expired Feb. 27 this year. None of the businesses on that list in the Kaiserslautern/Ramstein area were still operating as of last October, according to Stars and Stripes research.
However, USAREUR is updating the list, and it will include businesses near military installations across Europe. The new list is due out in late April.
“It was time to update the list, and we were taking corrective action,” said Percy Morgan, military police policy adviser for USAREUR’s Office of the Provost Marshal.
USAREUR has a biennial requirement to update the off-limits list. It asks communities across Europe for changes every six months and publishes the changes every two years.
Specifically for the Kaiserslautern military community, an armed forces disciplinary control board met March 2 to make changes to the list, said Maj. Mike Young, chief public affairs officer with the 435th Air Base Wing in Ramstein. Included in that meeting were Air Force and Army personnel. The new list for the military community should be released in early April, Young said.
“The whole idea behind this is to keep track of businesses and individuals who have been alleged of committing unlawful acts,” Young said. “Ultimately, the list is there to protect consumers.”
U.S. military personnel are prohibited from using the businesses or having business dealing with the individuals on the list. Those who violate the mandate are subject to punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Civilians are cautioned that the establishments have been listed as off limits.
Businesses receive several warnings before they are placed on the off-limits list and also have a chance to appeal complaints lodged against them, Young said.
“Steps are usually taken by the business, and the matter is resolved before it gets on the banned list,” Young said. “That’s probably why the list is so small.”
Only eight businesses and two individuals are on the Kaiserslautern military community list provided by Young.
But Auto Galerie, one of the businesses on that undated list, went under at least two years ago.
A new car dealership houses the building formerly occupied by Auto Galerie, but the new company’s address on Im Haderwald near the entrance to Pulaski Barracks is still on the list. The new dealership opened in September 2002.
Rudy Bauer, a car salesman at the new dealership, was quick to note that the previous tenant had left.
“He’s gone,” Bauer said. “He had tax problems. Maybe that’s the reason why he was on there.”
