Question: In response to the "auwe" from a driver about motorists crossing the solid white line on the H-1 freeway, at the University Avenue on- and offramps, Koko Head-bound ("Kokua Line," Sept. 23): The assumption that it is illegal to cross the solid white line that delineates the lane is wrong. On Page 34 of the Official Hawaii Driver’s Manual, it says, "Single Solid White Lines indicate that movement from lane to lane is hazardous. The wider the line, the greater the hazard. You may cross a solid white line only in unusual circumstances and only with great care." I don’t know under what circumstances drivers are changing lanes in this area, nor can I comment if the lane changes were done with "great care," but it is not illegal to do so. I’ve run into a lot of other people who think that it’s illegal to cross a solid white line, so can you let them know what the actual law is?

Answer: The actual law does not define "unusual circumstances" or "great care," the Honolulu Police Department’s Traffic Division said, "but generally speaking, the solid white line is used where drivers should exercise additional caution before moving between lanes."

As noted in the driver’s manual, Section 291C-38(c)(3) of the Hawaii Revised Statutes states, "a solid white line may be crossed only in unusual circumstances and then only with great care."

It also says, "A solid white line is used to indicate the edge of the traffic lane where travel in the same direction is permitted on both sides of the line but where movement from lane to lane is considered to be hazardous."

Solid white lines are frequently seen at freeway ramps and locations where multiple cars are changing lanes at the same time, according to the Traffic Division.

Thus, crossing a solid line is considered hazardous because of the number of cars and because slower-moving cars are trying to merge with cars traveling at freeway speed.

As to whether crossing such a line is "illegal," the Traffic Division says it would be up to an officer who to determine whether unusual circumstances existed and whether the driver showed great care.

Question: I received an envelope from an insurance company that contained marketing materials. I did not open the envelope. I never solicited these documents, and I have no current business with the company. Stamped on the front of the envelope was a "postage due" notice, stating that 44 cents was owed because of insufficient postage, along with a small yellow envelope from the postal carrier. Am I obligated to pay the 44 cents? There is no return address, so I did not think marking it "Return to Sender" was an option.

Answer: You are not obligated to pay the 44 cents.

The mail can be endorsed "refused and returned to the Postal Service," said Lynne Moore, consumer affairs manager for the U.S. Postal Service in Hawaii.

Since there was no return address, it would be treated as dead mail.

If it had a return address, it would be returned to the sender with the reason for nondelivery.

Question: I know that the city’s convenience centers for refuse and recycling do not accept concrete or rocks. I’ve been doing some yardwork and found some rocks and cement blocks that I want to get rid of. Is there somewhere I could dispose of them?

Answer: You can take them to the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill toward Makakilo. Go to opala.org/solid_waste/what_goes_where_table.html#refuse for details.