Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: At 4:55 p.m. July 26, a sheriff's car came out of the Alakea Street side of the State Office Tower and turned on its blue lights to stop mauka-bound traffic on Alakea to allow certain vehicles unrestricted entry into the traffic flow. I drive that street every day on my way home from work and sit patiently in the correct lane to wait my turn. It does not seem fair that police cars can just turn on their lights whenever. I thought these lights were for emergency use only. Also, I thought only HPD could use blue lights on their cars. Are sheriffs the same as police? When I called the sheriff's office, they gave me some story about "a police emergency." Sounded bogus to me -- more like, stop cars with police lights so we don't have to wait. Deputy’s use of
blue light improperAnswer: The Sheriff Division investigated your complaint and determined that a deputy sheriff used the blue light on his vehicle improperly, said Ted Sakai, director of the state Department of Public Safety.
He apologized for the inconvenience caused you and said the two deputies involved were reprimanded for "poor judgment." Additionally, a written reminder was issued to all law enforcement personnel on the proper use of the blue lights, he said.
Sheriff Division vehicles are authorized emergency vehicles and drivers are allowed to use the blue lights when responding to an emergency or when pursuing an actual or suspected violator.
On the day in question, the deputy sheriff driving the vehicle you cited and another deputy in an unmarked vehicle were transporting inmates from the sheriff's cellblock to a correctional facility, Sakai said. Because they were transporting several inmates, the two deputies planned to follow each other for security and safety reasons, he said.
The first deputy decided it was safe to cross Alakea Street from the driveway "with least interruption to the traffic flow that afternoon," Sakai said. He then turned on his blue light to "stop traffic momentarily" and allow the sheriff vehicles enough time to enter the far left lane.
This was done "without taking into account the inconvenience it may have caused the driving public," Sakai said.
Q: When can the Kaneohe Community and Senior Center have its parking lot lines redrawn? The lines are so faded that you can't see to park in the designated spaces. A call was placed to the city complaints department two months ago, but so far nothing has been done.
A: Actually, a work order was placed for the restriping job way back when, but it's a matter of priorities, a spokesman for the city Department of Customer Services said. Other projects are higher on the priority list.
Based on your complaint, the spokesman said he would check on the work order.
In the reorganization of city government, the Department of Facility Maintenance is now responsible for such matters.
Auwe
To the female driver in the Ford Thunderbird, who was in the makai-most lane of the two lanes turning left from Kalanianaole Highway onto West Hind Drive at 4:55 p.m. Aug. 6. You accelerated to get in front of other cars on the single-lane West Hind Drive, knocking down the sign at Makalena Street.You didn't even stop to remove it from the road! You should be charged for the cost of the sign, plus installation and repair. -- D.Y.
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