|
Kokua Line
June Watanabe
|
Walking on the road is often illegal
Question: There are many senior citizens in our Moanalua neighborhood who take an early morning stroll. The problem is that many prefer to walk on the road, not the sidewalk. There is a law against jaywalking, but is there any law that prevents a person from walking on the road? Seems pretty ironic to fine a person for jaywalking yet allow others to be strolling on the road. To make matters worse, it is always pitch black in the early morning, and many walkers don't wear the correct color of clothing.
Answer: If a sidewalk is available, it is unlawful to walk along the adjacent road.
If there isn't a sidewalk, people should, "when practicable," walk facing oncoming traffic. Judging from observation, it appears many pedestrians aren't aware of either law.
Capt. Frank Fujii, spokesman for the Honolulu Police Department, cited Chapter 291C-76 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, which reads, "Where sidewalks are provided it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway, bicycle lane, or bicycle path."
Asked if police ever cite for such a violation, Fujii said, "Yes, if the person is creating a hazard for himself or for drivers. ... The most important thing is that people have to be responsible."
The law further says, "Where sidewalks are not provided any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall, when practicable, walk only on the left side of the roadway or its shoulder facing traffic which may approach from the opposite direction."
Q: Why don't police crack down on people putting stickers on their license plates? Is there a law?
A: Section 29-133.2-24 of the state Department of Transportation's Hawaii Administrative Rules deals with the "issuance of certificates of inspection and affixing of inspection stickers."
That section reads: "After the certificate of inspection is signed, a two-part inspection sticker shall be affixed by the inspector upon the right, most nearly vertical portion of the rear bumper of the vehicle or on another appropriate place where the sticker can be clearly viewed by a person who is 50 feet behind the vehicle."
Meanwhile, Chapter 249-7 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes on "Number plates" says, "Number plates shall at all times be displayed entirely unobscured and be kept reasonably clean."
The Honolulu Police Department cited those two sections of the law as meaning safety stickers should not be placed on license plates.
That said, HPD believes the violation should "be caught by inspection, not by police," said spokesman Capt. Frank Fujii.
He pointed to Chapter 286-27 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes as placing responsibility on the Department of Transportation for seeing that safety stickers are properly issued by safety check stations. The department may revoke or suspend stations from issuing safety checks.
Fujii acknowledged a station might properly affix a safety sticker but that a vehicle owner might remove it and place it elsewhere.
Got a question or complaint? Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered. E-mail to
kokualine@starbulletin.com.
See also: Useful phone numbers