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Kokua Line June Watanabe |
Comptroller can approve
unmarked carsQuestion: The other day, I noticed a very nice-looking white Toyota Camry driving in Mililani. When I looked closely, I realized that it had state government license plates. The odd thing about the car was that it didn't have a state seal on the driver and passenger doors. I did a little bit of investigating and called the state and found out that this "unmarked" car belongs to the director of the Department of Transportation. Why is it that he is given a special car without the state seal to drive? Is there a reason why his car is unmarked, or is he trying to hide from something or someone? Why is the director of transportation given special privilege?
Answer: Transportation Director Rodney Haraga asked for and got approval from state Comptroller Russ Saito, who heads the Department of Accounting & General Services, to drive an unmarked state vehicle.
With specified exceptions, every motor vehicle owned or controlled by the state is to have a facsimile of the state seal, the words "For Official Use Only" and the name of the department or agency controlling or possessing the vehicle.
This requirement, spelled out under Section 105-6 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, does not apply to the governor, lieutenant governor, chief justice of the Supreme Court, the president of the University of Hawaii or to motor vehicles used in any ride-sharing program of the state, undercover investigative work, law enforcement and other functions "as approved by the comptroller."
So far, Haraga is the only director to request an unmarked state vehicle, according to George Okano, acting chief of the Automotive Management Division for the Department of Accounting & General Services.
Okano explained that state directors can either use their personal vehicles and receive a monthly transportation allowance; they may use a vehicle rented by their department from DAGS's central motor pool; or they may use a vehicle assigned to their department.
Through his spokesman, Haraga said he asked for an unmarked state car because the logo makes a vehicle an easy target for anyone who has a vendetta against a state worker. He pointed to "previous incidents of state vehicles vandalized."
One example given was when the tires of a state vehicle were slashed during a community meeting on the North Shore about three years ago. The meeting followed the Waimea Bay rockslide in 2000 that led to the shutdown of Kamehameha Highway.
Auwe
To motorists who don't use turn signals while driving. I don't appreciate motorists who cut me off at the last minute, immediately making a turn after doing so, or even cutting me off, period! What ever happened to giving yourself a car length to change lanes? Using your turn signal is the law -- not an option. But just because you put on your signal doesn't mean you can just cut in. It is common courtesy to wait for acknowledgment. A lot of people are always in such hurry to get somewhere that they've forgotten how to be POLITE. -- Disgusted
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