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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Technicality affected car-pool lanes
Question: Recently, I've noticed a number of the cars with only one occupant at about 6 a.m. in the car-pool lane on Kalanianaole Highway. When I called the Honolulu Police Department's Traffic Division to ask if they could check these lanes, I was told that they are no longer issuing tickets for car-pool lane violations, since the state law is defective and the judges are throwing the cases out. Does this now mean that there is no enforcement of car-pool lane violations, so anyone can use them?
Answer: No. There had been a problem with enforcement, but it apparently was kept under the radar and was resolved last year.
The problem -- an ambiguity in the law relating to car-pool (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes -- was detected when a driver challenged a citation in court, said Michelle Yu, spokeswoman for the Honolulu Police Department.
"Apparently, the car-pool law requires that rules be adopted regarding the administration of car-pool lanes," she explained. "Initially, this wasn't done -- even though car-pool signs were posted and officers were issuing tickets."
HPD worked with the Prosecutor's Office to clarify the law, she said.
"Last September, the Hawaii Administrative Rules were revised, the car-pool signs replaced, and enforcement has been ongoing since then," Yu said.
Chapter 19-108 of the state Department of Transportation's Administrative Rules says the following areas are designated as high-occupancy vehicle lanes when "signed and marked by official traffic control devices": the H-1 freeway from Manager's Drive to Keehi Interchange; the H-2 freeway from Waiawa Interchange to Mililani Interchange; Moanalua Freeway, from Halawa Interchange to Puuloa Road; Kalanianaole Highway, from West Halemaumau Street to Ainakoa Avenue; and Nimitz Highway, from Keehi Interchange to Pacific Street.
Other roadways may be designated as demonstration HOV lanes for up to one year "when deemed necessary to improve traffic conditions."
Q: I recently saw that something was removed from the mauka sidewalk of South Beretania Street between Piikoi and Keeaumoku streets, leaving four large bolts/screws sticking up about a half-inch. There were men trimming trees near that spot when I passed by. Because leaves were scattered on the sidewalk and I was looking at the workers, I stepped on one of the bolts. Luckily, I was not injured. Those bolts need to be removed or cut down to sidewalk level. Who would be responsible for that? One of the workers thought it was the state.
A: An inspector from the city Building Division checked the situation immediately after we passed on your complaint last week.
We were told the city Road Maintenance Division would be asked to remove the bolts.
A Building Division spokesman noted that the bolts apparently had been there for years, but people who work in the area did not know what they were used for.
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