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Kokua Line June Watanabe |
Isle car plates OK
for student in CaliforniaQuestion: I am a college student in California. I don't feel I need to register my car in California because I am only here temporarily. I still have my Hawaii license plates. I renewed my car registration a few months ago, but my safety inspection expired. (California only has a smog test for cars that are registered in the state.) I was told I can keep my Hawaii plates if I don't plan to permanently reside in California, and I can get a waiver for the safety inspection. I was told by another individual that I must put in a change of address for my vehicle. Could you clarify what the proper procedure is for temporary out-of-state vehicles? When I do return, will I have to pay a fee for having an expired safety inspection?
Answer: In most states, California included, college students may operate their vehicles with their home state registrations, provided they are not employed full time, noted Dennis Kamimura, administrator of the city Motor Vehicle and Licensing Division.
But he advises anyone operating a vehicle with Hawaii registration and plates to check with the other state's Division of Motor Vehicles "to ensure that they are allowed to do so, since we do not refund taxes and fees paid."
Before your vehicle's registration expires, you should obtain Form DF-L(MVR)-64 -- a resident certification form -- from a satellite city hall, Kamimura said. Submit the completed form, fee payment and your renewal form or last issued certificate of registration to renew the registration.
The resident form allows for the exemption of the required current safety check as a condition of renewal, Kamimura said.
Regarding changing the address on the registration form, he said the only reason to do this is to receive your renewal card and, subsequently, certificate of registration and license plate emblem, at your California address.
If your address changes each school year, Kamimura recommends that you use a local (Hawaii) address and have your parents or friend mail you the renewal forms. Your parents could pay for the renewal if they have a completed Form DF-L(MVR)-64.
If the registered owners of the vehicle are your parents, they can complete the DF-L(MVR)-64 form, pay for the renewal and send the validated certificate of registration and license plate validation emblem to you.
Once your vehicle is shipped back to Hawaii, you must "immediately obtain a current safety check -- there are no delinquent fees for safety checks," Kamimura said. "When the vehicle is up for renewal, just submit the safety check along with the renewal or last issued certificate of registration and appropriate fees."
Q: Is it legal in Hawaii to play online poker or to do online sports betting? The Web sites just say to contact your state official to find out.
A: As answered previously in "Kokua Line," the answer is "no."
No matter where the gambling is actually taking place, as long as you're in Hawaii and as long as the elements of consideration, chance and prize are involved, the gambling is viewed as "originating in our state, and it's a violation of our state laws," according to the Honolulu Police Department.
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