Question: I have neighbors who park their cars in front of my home, causing bald spots in the grass and problems mowing. Am I allowed to place cones? How long are automobiles allowed to park? Does this warrant calling the police?

Answer: You are not allowed to place cones or any other obstruction on the "unimproved sidewalk" area, basically the grassy area between the property line and street, without a permit from the city Department of Planning and Permitting.

Vehicles are supposed to be moved at least once every 24 hours, even if it’s just an inch.

You should call police if vehicles parked in the unimproved sidewalk area are blocking pedestrians from passing by or otherwise creating a hazard.

The Honolulu Police Department says it will not cite a vehicle unless it is completely blocking pedestrian traffic or creating a hazard if parked in those unimproved sidewalk areas, reaffirming the explanation given previously (See starbulletin.com/97/11/06/news/kokualine.html).

Question: Who is responsible for maintaining the section between the tile wall on our property and the road? There’s a big dip made by the cars that park in front of our house. Is it our responsibility or the city’s?

Answer: It’s the adjacent property owner’s responsibility, even though the city owns the area.

The city Department of Planning and Permitting pointed to Section 14-20.1 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, which says, "Every property owner whose land abuts or adjoins a public street shall continually maintain, and keep clean, passable and free from weeds and noxious growths, the sidewalk and gutter area which abuts or adjoins the property owner’s property."

Exceptions are in cases where maintenance of an abutting sidewalk and gutter might be hazardous to the owner, or if there is no reasonable access from the property to the sidewalk and gutter.

"Sidewalk" means that area between a curb line or the pavement of a roadway, and the adjacent property line intended for pedestrian use, including any setback area acquired by the city for road widening purposes.

Mahalo

To the following supporters of our 2010-11 year — your partnership makes our work with Hana’s youth and community possible: Bill Healy Foundation, Charles Engelhard Foundation, County of Maui, G.N. Wilcox Trust, Hau’oli Mau Loa Foundation, Kamehameha Schools, McInerny Foundation, Office of Hawaiian Affairs; and the Kent & Polli Smith Family Fund, Omidyar ‘Ohana Fund, Parks Family Foundation Fund, Rev. Takie Okumura Family Fund, Tobacco Prevention & Control Trust Fund and Wilson P. Cannon Fund at the Hawai’i Community Foundation; plus numerous private donors and local businesses. We couldn’t do it without your generous kokua. — Rick Rutiz, executive director, Ma ka Hana ka ‘Ike (Hana School Building Program)

Auwe

To two aggressive drivers on the H-1 freeway, Waianae-bound, at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3. The first was in a white sedan tailgating drivers. He had the nerve to blast his horn as he overtook cars going the 60 mph speed limit. The second driver was in a tan SUV speeding and zigzagging dangerously between cars. The sad thing was that there were kids in the back seat. These drivers are a huge danger to our roads and need to slow down before they kill others or themselves. HPD, please patrol the H-1, Waianae-bound, in the morning. There are too many cars speeding. — No Name

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 e-mail kokualine@staradvertiser.com.