U.S. military personnel in private vehicles should be charged tolls to use expressways

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

U.S. military personnel in private vehicles should be charged tolls to use expressways

Japanese Communist Party representative Inoue Satoshi at a House of Councilors Committee on Foreign Affairs meeting on November 27 demanded that the government stop using tax money to pay expressway tolls for U.S. military personnel taking holiday trips.

Inoue revealed that U.S. military personnel using rental cars from U.S. authorities are considered to be on “official duty” and can use Japanese expressways without paying the tolls. He criticized such a U.S. attitude for using the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) as an excuse to impudently be excused from paying expressway tolls.

Foreign Minister Okada Katsuya said in response, “My understanding is that U.S. servicemen driving on private trips are not given the toll-free privilege. However, we will discuss the issue with the U.S. authorities.”

Inoue also revealed that chartered buses are arranged by the U.S. Yokota Air Base for U.S. servicemen’s “love of Japanese culture” trips with the toll-free privilege, including trips to Tokyo Disneyland every month and a shopping tour in December.

Defense Minister Kitazawa Toshimi stated, “I will hold talks with the U.S. on the matter you pointed out.”

- Akahata, November 28, 2009