Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: Recently, people visiting in our neighborhood parked in front of my neighbor's home. It was a perfectly legal parking spot -- no fire hydrant, no "no parking" sign, no driveway incursion. HPD keeps record
of cars towedBut my neighbor does not like people parking in front of his house and has expressed this frequently. This time, he called a towing service, which came and towed the car away.
The people who owned the car called police, but police took the position that they had nothing to do with it -- that it wasn't a criminal offense and it was between the car owner and the tow company. They did not even mention my neighbor, who called. In my view, it was auto theft. Can you give any insight into why something like this can happen?
Answer: Since you declined to give a street address, this is a difficult one to nail down.
From talking with police and motor vehicle officials, however, they can't believe the situation you described happened, unless there are other undisclosed facts.
The "best way to check that is to call HPD because police would have a record of cars being towed, as well as who towed the car," said Dennis Kamimura, administrator for the city Department of Finance's Motor Vehicles and Licensing Division.
The Finance Department handles the city's tow company contracts.
But just on the face of it, "This doesn't make any sense," said Honolulu Police Department spokesman Brandon Stone. "A homeowner cannot just call a tow company and have a car towed off a public street."
On public property, contracted companies would not tow a vehicle unless told to do so by police because of a parking violation or traffic hazard, Kamimura said.
Also, if someone calls a tow company to tow away a car, the company is supposed to ask if it's a personal car involved. An individual cannot authorize the removal of another person's car unless it is on private property with posted signs, Kamimura said.
Veterans Day ceremony
The booming sounds you hear tomorrow in the downtown area will be cannons firing in rehearsal for Thursday's annual Veterans Day ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl.Two rounds will be fired about 3 p.m., officials said.
Thursday's one-hour ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m., will include a 21-gun salute and a missing-man flyover by the Hawaii Air National Guard.
Punchbowl officials say they regret any inconvenience this may cause but would like people to remember "that the veterans we are honoring enable us to enjoy these 'sounds of freedom' today."
Auwe
To the lady in Row S at the Sunday evening, Oct. 24, performance of "Miss Saigon." Not only did she cough and loudly yawn all through the show, she also made ignorant comments about what each scene was about. Be more considerate of people around you! -- No name
Mahalo
To a caring clerk at Carl Jr.'s 76 gas station on Nimitz Highway. About 5:45 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, my car battery conked out when I was there checking the water in the battery. A young man behind the counter was very concerned and made sure I called someone to help. Mahalo also to Roy, who was also there getting water for his car, who asked if he could help. He jump-started my car so I could get home. -- Trudy Punohu
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