Kokua Line
Kokua Line
As long as car is tended,
it’s not legally abandoned
Question: A car has been parked on Hayden Street since the end of December, and earlier this month, an abandoned-vehicle notice was placed on the car. Later that evening, the notice had been removed and the car moved about a foot. Will this car be allowed to "sit" in a valuable parking space for another month, then move another foot to prevent being towed away? There is barely enough space for the residents in our neighborhood, and everyone except the owner of this car shows courtesy in parking their vehicles.Answer: Any movement of a vehicle shows it is being "attended to," explained David Mau, the city's assistant administrator for motor vehicle and licensing.
Under the law, it therefore cannot be considered abandoned and towed away, he said. However, if the vehicle is actually cited for not moving after 24 hours, the owner is liable for a $255 fine, Mau said.
This is how it works. Upon an initial inspection of a possible "abandoned vehicle," a city inspector will mark a vehicle's tires and place a notice saying it is being investigated as an abandoned vehicle.
If the vehicle is moved within 24 hours, nothing is done.
However, if the vehicle is not moved after 24 hours and after notice is given, "We will issue an abandoned-vehicle citation," Mau said. By the end of the day, a work order will be generated to have one of the city's towing contractors remove the vehicle.
If the owner moves the vehicle before the contractor is able to respond, the vehicle will not be towed, but the owner is responsible for the citation and fine, Mau said.
As police and motor vehicle officials have observed in the past, the issue is not so much with "abandoned" vehicles, but with limited on-street parking in many neighborhoods.
Mau noted that people who carpool sometimes are targets of complaints of parking for long periods of time on the street. They may use their cars only once a week, but the vehicles are registered and have safety checks and are not abandoned, he said.
"But per the statutes, we tell these people they need to move (their vehicles) at least (once) within a 24-hour period," he said.
In the meantime, if a vehicle is creating a traffic hazard, such as parking too close to a driveway, you should call police, Mau said.
Q: At the corner of Dillingham Boulevard and Alakawa Street, in front of the Sprint building, a whole bunch of trees have been chopped down and shoulders all torn up. Why? They look like healthy trees.
A: The removal of two kamani trees was approved by the city Department of Planning & Permitting's Urban Design Branch as part of an off-site road improvement project at Dillingham and Alakawa.
The department recommended the removal of the two trees "because tree relocation would not guarantee the trees' survival," said William Balfour, director of the city Department of Parks & Recreation. His department, which oversees trees along city roadways, approved the removal.
We asked about your observation that "a whole bunch of trees" were removed and were told that, as far as city officials knew, only two were affected.
The private contractor is required to plant three kamani trees when the project is completed.
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