Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: What qualifies an automobile to fall under the category of the lemon law? My impression is, if a car goes into repair shop at least three times for the same problem, you can file for a replacement or a refund under the lemon law. Is this true, and is there a time limit involved? Know your rights
under state lemon
law for carsAnswer: The state's "lemon law" is aimed at helping consumers who have repeated problems in getting their new or leased vehicles repaired under the manufacturer's warranty.
Vehicles covered include a car transferred to a second owner if the manufacturer's written warranty is still in effect. Not covered are mopeds, motorcycles or motor scooters, or vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating, which is the maximum loaded weight of the vehicle as specified by the manufacturer). The GVWR is not the weight stated on your registration, but can be found on the sticker that is placed on the driver-side door jamb.
The lemon law rights period expires two years after the original delivery of the car or the first 24,000 miles, whichever comes first, assuming the manufacturer's "express warranty" is still in effect.
You can seek a refund or a replacement vehicle from the manufacturer under the lemon law if you took your car in for repairs for the same "nonconformity" at least three times during the rights period with no resolution of the problem; or you took your car in for repair at least once for a "serious nonconformity" within the rights period, but the problem continues to exist and the nonconformity "is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if the car is driven"; or you took your car in for repair for one or more nonconformities within the rights period, and the total number of business days the car was in the shop was at least 30 days.
The State Certified Arbitration Program is a self-help arbitration process -- an alternative to going to court -- set up to help consumers resolve a warranty dispute with a manufacturer.
For more information, call the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: on Oahu, 587-3222 -- choose option No. 2; Kauai, 274-3141, then 73222, then the # sign; Maui, 984-2400, 73222, then the # sign; Big Island, 974-4000, 73222, then the # sign; and Lanai/Molokai, 800-468-4641, 73222, then the # sign.
You can also check the lemon law Web site at http://www.state.hi.us/dcca/riconew/scap.html.
Auwe
On Labor Day, I had just come in from surfing at the Kewalo surf break and was at the shower where five children were playing with the shower -- leaving four showers on full blast while they ran around and through the sprays.I told one of the older kids to "not waste water" and "turn off the shower" if done showering. They continued to waste water. After a few minutes, I walked over and turned off the showers when the kids weren't there. When I returned to my car, I saw one mother standing by as the kids turned on the showers again to play as if nothing was wrong.
It is no wonder that these young children have no sense of water conservation since their own parents see nothing wrong with wasting water at public facilities. Shame on the mother and others who do the same thing at public facilities. -- Anonymous
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.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com