QUESTION: How can the cell phone ban be made enforceable as so many people are currently using their phone while driving? These very unconscious people place our lives at risk. Such umbrage that they feel that they are different. Where is the enforcement from the Honolulu Police Department, when it stated that it would support a full cell phone ban? Let's repeal the law if it is not worth the paper it's written on!

ANSWER: More than 3,200 people can attest to the fact that there has been some enforcement since the law took effect last July.

Since July 1, HPD has issued that many citations.

“;More people are obeying the ordinance than not,”; said Maj. Thomas Nitta, commander of HPD's Traffic Division. “;It is just that some people feel their convenience is more important than the safety of others.”;

Nitta said HPD will continue to issue citations when they observe someone breaking the law.

QUESTION: On Sunday, Feb. 14, at about 1:15 p.m., we saw a gray car to the right of us on the H-2 freeway. A gal was using her cell phone, with pen and paper in her left hand, as she was driving. There was a young man in the passenger seat and a child in the back seat. We took a few pictures of the situation—she even smiled into the camera. Do police need to see the violation, or can we send the picture and information to them? If so, to who and what department can we send this to?

ANSWER: A police officer personally must observe the violation before issuing a citation, so it wouldn't do any good to send in the photo, said Caroline Sluyter, a spokeswoman with the Honolulu Police Department.

I assured HPD that whoever took the photo wasn't driving as well.

Mahalo

To the following people, companies and organizations whose support was critical to the success of our team, Keaau Mixed Plate, at the 2010 Lifesmarts Competition held at the state Capitol on Feb. 20: Mary Correa, our complex-area superintendent; Ronald Jarvis, our principal; our parents for their love and support; Hawaii Pacific Federal Credit Union, Better Business Bureau Foundation, Diamond Bakery Co., Hawaii Credit Union League, Hawaii State Federal Credit Union, HMSA, Kaiser Permanente, Office Of the Securities Commissioner, state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; state Department of Education; Taxpayer Advocate Service; University of Hawaii Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; and Jackie Choy, Lifesmarts state coordinator, who worked hard to coordinate the competition and travel to Oahu for us and Kealakehe High School.—Keaau High School State Champions of the Lifesmarts Competition: Ricky William Tabandera (captain), Riana Brown, Chloe Frizelle, Jak Murasaki, Mark Seu and coaches Kathlynn Tabandera and David Lee

Congratulations to the Keaau team, which won the consumer education competition for the fourth year in a row.

The team will represent Hawaii at the national competition April 24-27 in Miami.

According to a news release, the competition features students in a game-show format, testing their knowledge of personal finance, health and safety, the environment, technology and consumer rights and responsibilities.