Guests can slow traffic, Honolulu police and the Secret Service responded to motorists' complaints about Thursday's multiple traffic tie-ups by asking for the public's patience when dignitaries visit.
cops say
HPD says traffic jams caused by
motorcades are hard to avoidBy Craig Gima
cgima@starbulletin.comThey said also that the visit of former President Bill Clinton on Tuesday should not cause the same traffic jams as those experienced by the motorcade of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's during her one-day stopover.
"We appreciate their patience. We try to move them as swiftly as possible," said Maj. Robert Prasser, of the traffic division. "As inconvenient as it is, the dignitaries generally make their own schedule and we have to abide by it."
Police held a news conference yesterday to respond to complaints by the public about the traffic mess caused by shutting down streets and highways to make way for Arroyo's motorcade.
Police also updated the press about the condition of a 29-year-old officer who lost control of his motorcycle and hit a wall while traveling with the motorcade to the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu.
The unidentified, four-year veteran was released from Queen's Medical Center yesterday morning. He suffered minor scrapes, but was kept in the hospital overnight for observation, police said.
Police said they do not have an estimate of the cost of security for the visit.
Maj. Mike Brede, of the Specialized Services Division, said they try to use flexible schedules and on-duty officers to keep costs low.
Secret Service Special Agent-in-Charge Al Joaquin said every time a dignitary who needs protection visits, an assessment is made of the threat level.
In Arroyo's case, it was determined she had a medium threat level, which requires a bullet-proof limousine and the shutting down of roadways.
Clinton is considered a lower risk and will not require the same security.
A visit by President Bush would require high security, including helicopters and security sweeps of the travel route before the motorcade went through.
Joaquin said that over the last two years, the Secret Service has provided protection for more than 130 dignitaries visiting Hawaii, but in the last year and a half, only Arroyo, Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao and Indonesia's President Megawati Sukarnoputri required the higher level of security.
Honolulu Police Department
City & County of Honolulu
