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QUESTION: There are a number of vehicles parked downtown at metered stalls, e.g., Richards Street, in which a placard saying "Parking Permit for Government Business" is placed on the dashboard. Can you determine how and why and on what basis these "permits" are being issued? Although I cannot say the vehicles are parked all day, I can say that the same cars, from the same department, seem to be there on a regular basis and stay for multiple hours.
ANSWER: The photo you provided showed a placard that was issued by the city Department of Transportation Services to the state Attorney General’s Criminal Division.
We explained previously that DTS does issue permits to city, state and federal agencies allowing their employees to park for free in metered stalls when on official business. See bit.ly/1mGLPZo.
However, "The placards are not intended to be used for ‘all-day parking’ on any city street unless the agency employee is attending an all-day meeting away from their normal or customary place of business," said DTS Director Michael Formby.
In other words, the placards are not a substitute for employee parking nor is the city authorizing federal, state or city employees to park on city streets as a substitute for off-street parking.
The placards are intended for agency employees out on "official business" away from their normal or customary place of business, Formby said. On-street parking is intended to be for priority short-term parking, he said.
He said if anyone sees a violation, they should contact DTS. Call 768-8387.
The Department of the Attorney General does have off-street employee parking, but there is a limited number of available stalls, said spokeswoman Anne Lopez.
Because of that, the department applies for and obtains on-street parking permits from DTS for its law enforcement investigators, she said.
The permits are issued to the investigators "to facilitate their ability to efficiently carry out their investigative duties," which entail site inspections, witness interviews, evidence gathering and other tasks that generally involve the frequent use of their vehicles, she said.
However, she said most investigators using these permits do not park their vehicles in one place for more than a few hours.
"We apologize for any inconvenience that the use of such permits may cause to the general public, and are working to minimize it,"Lopez said.
Bella Dresses
The Bella Project has announced the next distribution of new and "virtually new" prom dresses and accessories to high school girls will be Saturday, Oct. 18, at Central Union Church.
To participate, an online registration form at http://1drv.ms/1oVIpGt must be completed. By appointment only.
The nonprofit organization provides prom attire free to high school girls who are unable to purchase it themselves. See bit.ly/1p7LZxZ.
The dresses are collected year-round and made available in the spring and fall.
For information, go to thebellaprojecthawaii.org.
MAHALO
To several great Samaritans. I was riding my mobility scooter home after a trip to Hawaii Kai Shopping Center back in June. As I entered the crosswalk at Keahole Street and Hawaii Kai Drive, my scooter flipped over, landing on one of my legs. As I lay in the street unable to move, panic engulfed me. Suddenly I looked up to see a handsome man dressed in black and white bending over me. Within minutes, two more men and a woman rushed to my side. Strong arms lifted me up and back onto the scooter. One man offered to drive me home in his pickup truck. Everyone gathered around me to be sure I was all right. They tested my scooter’s driveability and saw me safely on my way back home. How I wished that I had asked for their names. I hope they will read this and know how much they all meant to me. God bless them all. — Mary A. Wilkinson
Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
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