State senator critical of
vans gets a ticket

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By Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.com

Windward Oahu Sen. Bob Hogue found a speeding citation in his mail two days after publicly asking state Transportation Director Brian Minaai to remove the traffic enforcement vans from the Likelike and Pali highways.

"The ticket has my driver's license number on it and said that I was driving too fast on the Likelike going Kaneohe-bound," said Hogue, a critic of the state's Photo Enforcement Program.

According to the ticket, the white Ford Taurus registered to Hogue was clocked going 61 mph in a 45 mph zone at the Burmeister overpass.

The date and time of the infraction is Jan. 22 at 9:30 a.m.

"That was when I was on the Senate floor for session that morning just before the State of the State address by the governor," Hogue said.

Since he was not driving the vehicle, Hogue can free himself from responsibility for the citation by submitting the name, address, driver's license number and notarized signature of the person who was driving.

Hogue said he is not going to do that.

"I'm going to contest the ticket on principle. This is another example of the absurdity of this law that needs to be worked out. The way the tickets are issued, there's this presumption of guilt. That's wrong.

"Also, they want you to rat out the person who was driving your car. That is wrong."

Hogue, a Republican who represents Kaneohe and Enchanted Lake, said he has not decided whether he will challenge the citation by letter or in person. He has a March 7 court date if he wants to challenge it in person.

Hogue circulated a petition urging repeal of the law that established the Photo Enforcement Program, and got 46 other lawmakers to sign it.

He said the citation has strengthened his resolve against the program. "It's just going to add fuel to the fire," he said.