Displaying a ‘for sale’ sign on parked car can be illegal

Question: Is it unlawful to post a “For Sale” sign on a private automobile when parked on a public street? My friend had a traffic citation for having a “For Sale” sign on his car when he was parked on the street in a legal parking space. He was visiting someone who lives in a condominium that has no visitor parking stalls.

Answer: There is a city law — Section 15-14.7 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu — that prohibits parking for “certain purposes.”

Among them, “No person shall park a vehicle upon any roadway for the principal purpose of … displaying such vehicle for sale … or washing, greasing or repairing such vehicle, except repairs necessitated by an emergency.”

“Yes, a vehicle that is parked on a public roadway and displaying a ‘For Sale’ sign could be cited,” said Capt. Andrew Lum, spokesman for the Honolulu Police Department.

It wouldn’t appear your friend’s main intention was to sell his car when he parked on the street. HPD says his recourse is to tell that to the judge.

“The vehicle’s owner could go to court to defend against the assertion their vehicle was parked on the roadway for the principal purpose of selling it,” Lum said.

AUWE

To a speeding police officer and the Honolulu Police Department. At about 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, a police car was speeding on two-lane East Manoa Road, going mauka on the wrong side of the street with its siren blasting, passing cars on the right. It scared and upset the heck out of a lot of people around Manoa Marketplace. When I went home, I called 911 saying I wanted to report an officer driving very dangerously and recklessly. The dispatcher said, “OK, we’ll send a policeman up to your house.” I explained why I didn’t want an officer to come to my house and asked if I could just give a report, and she said, “No, either we have to send somebody out to your house or you have to come down to the Police Department.” What an incredible disservice it is to someone who wants to report a dangerous incident to be told they can’t do it unless an officer comes to the house or they have to go to the police station. — Upset in Manoa

In response to your criticism about the officer in the vehicle, HPD said that he was one of several who responded to “a burglary that had just been committed,” indicating a sense of urgency at the time.

The officers “located and arrested several suspects, and the investigation is ongoing.”

However, the response did not address the issue of whether the officer might have endangered people in rushing to the scene, as you indicated.

Regarding why you have to file a complaint in person, an HPD spokesman said that for issues of misconduct, “a formal complaint requires it to be notarized.”

We’re told the purpose of meeting with an officer at a complainant’s home or at the police station is to verify the complainant’s identification.

FREE MEDICARE COUNSELING

Seniors are invited to get help enrolling in or changing their Medicare Supplemental Health Care Plans at two free “Medicare Checkup” events on Nov. 17:

» 9 a.m. to noon, Filipino Community Center, 94-428 Mokuola St., Waipahu
» 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Kalihi Waena Elementary School, 1240 Gulick Ave.

People wishing to have individual counseling after the initial 75-minute presentation are advised to bring a current health insurance card, letters from their insurance company and a list of medications.

Language assistance in Ilocano and Tagalog will be available for those who need it.

The events are free, but to register, go to himedicare.eventbrite.com or call 545-6004.

AARP and SagePLUS are sponsoring the events.