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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Form 1500 at post office can stop junk
Question: My brother-in-law died about two years ago. His mail has since been coming to our address in his name. I have over the years marked this "junk" mail as "REFUSED" and "RETURN TO SENDER," but they still are sending junk mail. One in particular is from Direct Video and DVD.Com in Gary, Ind. On the outside of the envelope, it says that it contains "sexually oriented ads." I do not want this trash in our home. How can we stop this junk mail?
Answer: The primary way to stop unwanted solicitations and other "junk" mail is to contact the Direct Marketing Association. Send a letter or postcard with your name, home address and signature to Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512.
You also can register online at www.dmaconsumers. org/cgi/offmailinglist.
To specifically stop getting mail of a sexual nature, fill out and submit a copy of the U.S. Postal Service's Form 1500, "Application for Listing and/or Prohibitory Order."
"I would recommend doing both," said Lynne Moore, spokeswoman for the Postal Service in Hawaii.
Contacting the Direct Marketing Association should cut down most of the "advertising mail," she said, while the prohibitory order targets mail that might be considered "erotically arousing or sexually provocative."
The Postal Service has a "Sexually Oriented Application Consumer Action Packet" with the form and instructions for obtaining the prohibitory order/listing. The packet can be downloaded at www.usps. com/forms/allforms.htm or picked up at the larger post offices.
You may apply on behalf of a minor child or deceased person, Moore said.
You also may apply to be placed on the Postal Service's list of people "not wishing to receive sexually oriented advertisements" through the mail.
You can apply for both via Form 1500.
The listing is more of a general, "umbrella" protection, while the prohibitory order is meant to deter mailings from a specific mailer. Because the application has to be signed, it has to be mailed in.
Moore said you should allow about three months to allow the order to take effect.
Q: Is pepper spray legal in Hawaii? If so, what are the laws regarding its use?
A: The City Council made pepper spray legal on Oahu in 1996 ("Kokua Line," Sept. 6, 2005).
The sale and use of pepper spray is discussed under Section 41-37 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu.
See www.honolulu.gov/refs/roh/41a26_42.htm.
Basically, pepper sprays can be used only in self-defense, in defense of another person or while protecting the property of the user or another person. Anyone selling pepper spray has to obtain a license.
Pepper sprays may not be sold to, purchased by or used by minors.
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