Question: I have noticed lately a variety of license plates on passenger vehicles which show Handicapped, U.S. Government, HI State, City & County, Consular, Honorary Consul and such. Are they exempt from paying at on-street parking meters and in city municipal parking lots?
Answer: It depends on the license plate or, in most cases, whether a special placard is displayed.
Thanks to Michael Formby, the new director of the city Department of Transportation Services, and his staff for pinpointing some of the various ordinances/statutes that deal with who gets to park for free in the city’s metered spaces and parking lots:
>> Section 291-55 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes allows persons with valid disabled-parking placards or license plates to park for free in metered stalls for the maximum time shown on the meter or 21⁄2 hours, whichever is greater. Free parking is not offered in lots with an attendant.
>> Section 291-71 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes allows electric vehicles with electric vehicle license plates to park for free in any state or county parking lot, and in metered stalls for 21⁄2 hours or the maximum time allowed on a meter, whichever is greater. The exemption doesn’t apply to fees assessed in increments longer than one 24-hour day, including weekly, monthly or yearly parking permits.
>> Section 15-13.13 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu gives the DTS director authority to issue placards allowing free parking to top city officials, as well as to federal, state and city agencies for use by their employees, on official government business.
It’s not enough just to have a federal, state or county license plate, Formby said. The placard also must be displayed.
With the placards, vehicles are allowed to park for free not only in metered stalls (no time limit), but also in loading/unloading zones.
While the parking is free, federal or state agencies are charged $100 per year for each placard issued to the agency.
The Honolulu Police Department said vehicles with consular/diplomatic license plates also would have to have the DTS placards in order to have free parking.
Question: Is it a state law that all mortgage loans in Hawaii require windstorm/hurricane insurance coverage?
Answer: There is no such state law, according to Gordon Ito, the state insurance commissioner with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.
“It is really a bank/mortgage company requirement to protect its interest,” he said.
Not only do the companies require hurricane insurance, but the underlying fire or homeowner’s insurance as well. If the property is in a flood zone, flood insurance is also required, Ito said.
Visit hawaii.gov/dcca/ins/hurricane-insurance.html.
Mahalo
To all the angels there the night of Aug. 31, when my best friend was hit on his motorcycle by a drunken hit-and-run driver on Likelike Highway. A couple of you jumped in your cars and chased the driver down and detained him while many of you ran to my friend’s aid as he lay there in the rain, broken and unable to respond. He heard you and thanked all of you in his mind and heart even though he couldn’t move. He is eternally grateful to all of you. He does remember all of it to this day. Although it was touch-and-go in the beginning, he’s recovering. He has some mobility now and works every day to get better faster. He is also grateful to all the police who responded so quickly and to the EMS crew — the helmet was a challenge to remove. As his friend, I am also so grateful to all of you for jumping in to save his life and bring the driver to justice. Thank you from his friends, family and most of all him. I hope that one day we can all thank you in person! — Christy
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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.
