Certain areas of Pier 38, 39 are restricted for security

By June Watanabe

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jan 10, 2013

~~Question: About 11:30 a.m. Dec. 4, I went to Pier 38 to pass some time until I picked up my wife in Chinatown. I visit Pier 38 frequently to have lunch at Nico’s or Uncle’s or just stroll the piers and enjoy the boats and sights. That day I did not plan on patronizing any of the businesses. I noticed a tug maneuvering to pick up a barge at Pier 39 and decided to stop and watch the operation. I pulled into the parking area designated for Nico’s and Uncle’s customers not intending to park or get out of the car. Shortly thereafter a private security guard approached and told me I could not stay there since it is reserved and I would have to leave. The lot was practically empty. I went to the end of the pier where other cars were parked so I could continue to watch the barge pick up its tow. Unbeknownst to me, she followed and again approached my car and lectured me that if I did not have specific business in the area I was trespassing and to “move on,” which I did. Did she have the right to accuse me of trespassing and expel me from the area just because I did not intend to patronize any of the businesses at that time?
Answer: The problem was that you were not in the area designated for public parking, according to the state Department of Transportation.
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Question: About 11:30 a.m. Dec. 4, I went to Pier 38 to pass some time until I picked up my wife in Chinatown. I visit Pier 38 frequently to have lunch at Nico’s or Uncle’s or just stroll the piers and enjoy the boats and sights. That day I did not plan on patronizing any of the businesses. I noticed a tug maneuvering to pick up a barge at Pier 39 and decided to stop and watch the operation. I pulled into the parking area designated for Nico’s and Uncle’s customers not intending to park or get out of the car. Shortly thereafter a private security guard approached and told me I could not stay there since it is reserved and I would have to leave. The lot was practically empty. I went to the end of the pier where other cars were parked so I could continue to watch the barge pick up its tow. Unbeknownst to me, she followed and again approached my car and lectured me that if I did not have specific business in the area I was trespassing and to “move on,” which I did. Did she have the right to accuse me of trespassing and expel me from the area just because I did not intend to patronize any of the businesses at that time?

Answer: The problem was that you were not in the area designated for public parking, according to the state Department of Transportation. Login for more...