Police license
plate seizure nets
close to 100

The effort targets repeat
DUI offenders

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By Nelson Daranciang
Star-Bulletin

Police statewide have seized fewer than 100 sets of vehicle license plates and registrations since a law took effect last September requiring them to do so whenever a repeat DUI offender is arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs said Ronald Sakata, Chief Adjudicator, Administrative Driver's License Revocation Office.

Honolulu police forward the license plates and registrations to the license revocation office which eventually forwards them to the city's Motor Vehicle Division for storage. Neighbor island police departments forward the plates and registrations they seize directly to their county motor vehicle agencies.

When police make a DUI arrest, they call the dispatcher to find out whether or not the suspect has a previous DUI, said Sgt. Clyde Yamashiro, Honolulu Police Department Traffic Division. The dispatcher makes a search of state and national databases and relays the information to the officer who makes the determination whether to seize the license plates and registration. Police can seize them only if the vehicle belongs to the arrestee.

If the plates and registration are seized, the vehicle is left in place. Police later issue temporary paper plates which are good for 30 days. The plates also serve as temporary registrations. If the license revocation office later determines that police failed to make a seizure or if the arrestee has other vehicles, the office sends out a notice informing the suspect of his or her obligation to relinquish the plates and registration, and that failure to do so may constitute a misdemeanor.

""Hopefully (the law) will have an impact on repeat offenders," Yamashiro said.