Question: Our neighborhood in Kalihi has been overrun with excessively noisy motor scooters zooming at all hours, up and down the street. A house up the street has cars coming and going at all hours. A van with no tires sits on the street in front of the house. There are more strangers walking around. Is there anything the police can do at this point? Or does an incident have to happen before they can get involved? How do we start a Neighborhood Security Watch program?
Answer: The Honolulu Police Department’s Community Policing Resource Center can help you get involved in making your neighborhood safer and more pleasant, perhaps even less noisy.
That’s done either through citizens patrols or neighborhood security watches.
For your area, call HPD’s District 5 community policing office at 723-8230 (other neighborhoods, call 529-3111 to be directed to the appropriate district office).
“Basically, we work with the community — see if there are any safety issues,” explained officer Teisa Eteuati, who works in the Kalihi district. Also, “A lot of our citizen patrols bring up problems that (HPD’s) patrols don’t always have time for,” such as parking issues, abandoned vehicles, potholes and “beautification” issues.
“It’s not just crime that may be the concern,” she said.
Neighborhood security watches basically require residents to get to know their neighbors, knowing “who doesn’t belong” in the neighborhood, becoming a “good witness,” then reporting any suspicious activity to 911.
The community policing staff will “do a short training,” about 45 minutes to an hour long, explaining “what not to do — not to confront anyone,” Eteuati said. “We also explain the 911 system and how to describe suspects and suspicious activity.” Participants also are required to sign waivers.
There doesn’t have to be a certain number of households involved to set up a security watch. However, to get an official “Neighborhood Security Watch” sign posted, there has to be at least 60 percent participation within a given area, Eteuati said.
There are more than 30 neighborhood security watches in her Kalihi area alone, she said.
Citizens patrols are an option for those who want to be more visible in their neighborhoods. The main requirement is that the walking group have at least two people, Eteuati said. Participants are provided bright T-shirts that say, “Citizen’s Patrol.”
Question: Is it correct that bicyclists must have a bell or similar item to alert people on the sidewalk when they are approaching from behind? As best as I can determine, virtually no bike has a bell.
Answer: Bicyclists are supposed to give an “audible” signal when passing pedestrians on a sidewalk, but there is no state or county law requiring that the warning come from a bell.
Typically, the warning would be a voice alert.
Section 15-18.7(c) of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu only says: “Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.”
Meanwhile, Section 291C-148 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, which covers “lamps and other equipment on bicycles,” does not require any bell or other kind of signal device.
MAHALO
To the two gentlemen who came to my secours (aid) on Kuulei Road in Kailua on Friday, June 15. I tried to move an 8-foot-by-3-foot bookcase from the store, which was way above my well-intended, but stupid, notion that I could handle it by myself. You vanished as fast as you had appeared. Please accept my sincere thanks whoever you are! — Knud
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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 email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
