Question: Do the people who enforce violations of cars parked in handicap stalls have the authority to issue tickets for other violations? On Oct. 25, cars at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu campus were ticketed for various violations. Are they doing the same at other college and university campuses and shopping centers? The city must be raising a tremendous amount of money if so.
Answer: The Honolulu Police Department’s Volunteer Special Enforcement Officers unit was formed to crack down on violations of the disabled-parking law, but its authority was expanded years ago to respond to other minor infractions (see archives.starbulletin.com/content/20091211_police_to_cite_and_tow_cars_parked_illegally_on_street).
The volunteer officers are authorized to issue citations also for prohibited parking, including in loading zones; street usage violations; expired registration and safety inspection decals; and abandoned vehicles.
West Oahu/Leeward Community College is just one of many campuses and areas regularly checked by the volunteers, said Capt. Darren Izumo of HPD’s Traffic Division.
The volunteers are assigned to different sectors around the island.
Izumo pointed out that money collected for traffic and parking violations does not go to the city; it goes to the state.
There are 13 Volunteer Special Enforcement Officers. While many are retirees, the unit includes people of all ages and both genders, Izumo said.
Volunteers get mileage reimbursement, free uniforms and equipment. In return, they work a flexible schedule, although HPD asks that they work a minimum of five hours a week or 20 hours a month.
Volunteers must be U.S. citizens, live in Honolulu, be at least 21 years old, be a high school graduate or have an equivalent GED certificate, have a valid Hawaii driver’s license, pass a criminal history and background investigation, complete an oral interview and be eligible to obtain a special police commission.
To volunteer or get more information, go to honolulupd.org/traffic/disabledparking.htm or call 529-3136.
Question: I have a Polish daughter-in-law who lives in London with my son, who is a British citizen with a British passport. I would like them to come and visit me, but each time she has applied for a visa, she has been denied. She’s told there is a new law that states anyone who comes to the United States is deemed to be an immigrant unless they can prove otherwise. Is this correct?
Answer: It’s more complicated than that, especially for Polish citizens.
Although a staunch ally of the United States, Poland is not part of the U.S.’s Visa Waiver Program, which allows people from 36 designated countries, 30 of them in Europe, to enter the U.S. with just a passport — no visa required — for stays of up to 90 days.
The problem is that the rejection rate for Poles applying to visit the U.S. is higher than the 3 percent or less set by law to be in the Visa Waiver Program. The fear is that too many visiting Poles would be likely to stay beyond the visa period.
However, President Barack Obama last December promised the Polish president that Poland would be added to the waiver program, although no target date was set.
MAHALO
To a kind city parks worker. I use a motorized wheelchair, and we were having a difficult time moving from the cement to the grass to get to the beach near the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel. A lovely man who we believe is a supervisor went out of his way to arrange for some dirt and gravel to be brought so that a small ramp could be made. We’re very grateful for his kindness and extra effort. — Roxie Berlin and Michelle Banish
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