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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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HOV lanes require only 2 in a vehicle
Question:
I drive to town using the Airport Viaduct and Nimitz Highway. I had one passenger in my car and was stopped by police on the Express exit (left side) entering Nimitz Highway from the viaduct and told that I needed three people in my car. I was not in the ZipperLane or contra-flow lane. In fact, there is no way to access those lanes from that exit. Prior to getting on that exit, I was in an HOV lane that signs clearly mark as a two-passenger-or-more lane. Does that particular exit require three riders?
Answer: No.
If you were on the Express Nimitz Highway offramp (Exit 18-A East), you were in an HOV lane, which requires only two people in a vehicle, said Tammy Mori, speaking for the state Department of Transportation.
The Airport Viaduct HOV lane, on the far left, goes down the ramp and connects to the left-most lane of Nimitz Highway, just before the Kalihi Stream Bridge.
The Transportation Department's new requirement of three passengers applies only to the ZipperLane and Nimitz contra-flow lane, Mori explained.
We passed Mori's answer on to the Honolulu Police Department.
Auwe
» Over the years, I have seen many abandoned animals starving to death or dead in the Pearl City industrial area, where I work. Please remind people they can take unwanted pets to the Humane Society. That is far better than dumping them somewhere. These animals die a slow, horrible death out there, not to mention how frightened they are. It is heartbreaking. -- No Name
» To whoever dumped a reddish pit bull/mixed dog along Iroquois Point Road. I was walking my dogs July 13 and saw the dog by the access gate to the old cane fields. It seemed safest to go home and call the Humane Society instead of chancing it running into traffic by approaching it. The Humane Society called the next evening to say they had picked up the dog. What kind of poor excuse for a human being abandons an animal like that? The Humane Society has 24-hour drop-off, and there are other organizations that accept animals, as well. -- Jay Clark
It is a petty misdemeanor for anyone to desert an animal -- "to leave (an) animal without the intention of returning to it" -- said Kawehi Yim, spokeswoman for the Hawaiian Humane Society.
If you see someone abandoning a pet, you are advised to get as much information as possible, then to call the Humane Society (946-2187).
"We would place a priority on this call," Yim said. If the Humane Society is able to trace the animal to an owner, the owner would be cited for animal abandonment.
An abandoned animal would be classified a stray. By law it has to be held for 48 hours, after which it could be made available for adoption.
Unwanted animals can be dropped off at the Humane Society, 2700 Waialae Ave.
"We would rather they do that then just abandon (the pet) out in the open, where they are basically defenseless," Yim said.
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. E-mail to
kokualine@starbulletin.com.
See also: Useful phone numbers