QUESTION: My wife, who came here from the Philippines, has been trying to get her driver’s license for over six months. She’s had her permit for nearly a year and is now a fairly good driver. She has taken the driving test five times and been told she failed each time. However, she has never been given any sort of written summary on why she failed or what she needs to work on, so I have no idea what she needs to practice more on. Why isn’t there a checklist given to the applicant showing what they did wrong and what they need to practice?

Answer: She can get a written explanation of why she failed, but only if she asks for one — in writing.

People who take the road test "have an opportunity to be debriefed by the driver license examiner, whether they pass or fail the road test," said Dennis Kamimura, administrator of the city Motor Vehicle and Licensing Division.

The debriefings are done verbally. Since examiners normally abbreviate notes taken during road tests, applicants might not understand what is written if only a copy of the score sheet is provided, Kamimura said.

However, applicants can request what errors were made and what points were deducted, and a written response will be provided.

Just give the examiner a signed note, with the applicant’s name and address, requesting a written explanation, Kamimura said. The response will be written by a supervisor on official letterhead after conferring with the examiner.

Applicants can request that verbal debriefings include a licensed driver, or, if the applicant is a minor, the licensed driver can request the post-test critique.

Kamimura said a debriefing will be terminated if it "becomes argumentative or the licensed driver becomes disruptive."

However, if there is a disagreement between the applicant — NOT the licensed driver — and examiner, the applicant may ask to speak to the supervisor.

Question: What are the laws for parking by driveways, in front of mailboxes and at intersections? A lot of contractors work in my neighborhood, parking any and everywhere. I hate to call 911 since it’s not an emergency.

Answer: No-parking laws can be found in the city Traffic Code, Chapter 15 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu — www.honolulu.gov/refs/roh/15a1_9.htm.

You’re not supposed to park in front of any driveway; within four feet of a public or private driveway; within an intersection; along the edges or curbs around corners; and in channelized areas of any two intersecting streets.

No city, state or postal regulation specifically prohibits parking in front of a mailbox, although many are within four feet of a driveway. (See hsblinks.com/2hc.)

As we previously reported, you can report chronic parking violations to the Honolulu Police Department’s Volunteer Special Enforcement Officers, who handle parking problems in general.

Call your district police station (numbers are in the phone book or at honolulupd.org/contact.htm).

Question: I have boxes of documents to be shredded. Is there any organization that is planning to have a shredding event for the public?

Answer: The Hawaii Better Business Bureau tentatively plans to sponsor a free shredding event in late October.

Details, not yet been finalized, will be posted on hawaii.bbb.org as they become available.