Question: My truck was being towed from a private lot in Kapahulu, so I called the tow company’s office number and they said the truck was being taken to its facility in Campbell Industrial Park. My friend gave me a ride to get my truck back, but as we were driving on the freeway, I saw the tow truck right in front of us. So I called the company again and asked if my truck could be dropped off so I wouldn’t have to drive all the way to Campbell. Just about that time, the driver for whatever reason pulled off the freeway and got on Puuloa Road in Mapunapuna. So they told me to meet him by Wendy’s restaurant on Puuloa. I was charged $302 — $75 for towing with a dolly, although I don’t know why a dolly had to be used; $15 for an off-hour charge although my truck was towed about noon time; a $25 storage fee although it wasn’t stored anywhere; plus $7.50 per mile for 25 miles. The driver said that was how far it was to Campbell, although it was only about 10 miles from Kapahulu to Puuloa Road. Is that legal? Also, I asked the driver if he had any insurance to tow my truck and he said he didn’t have that information and didn’t have to show me anything, that I should check with his office. Aren’t tow truck drivers supposed to carry extra insurance for towing?
Answer: You are advised to file a complaint with the state Office of Consumer Protection so it can determine whether you were overcharged based on the state’s towing law.
Call 587-4272 or go to hawaii.gov/dcca/ocp.
Section 290-11(b) of the Hawaii Revised Statutes sets the towing and mileage fees that towing companies are allowed to charge on public or private property, said Bruce Kim, executive director of the Office of Consumer Protection.
The allowable fees are $65 for each tow or $75 for a tow using a dolly; mileage charges of $7.50 per mile; an overtime charge of $15 if the tow occurs between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Monday through Thursday, or from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday; and a storage fee of $25 per day or a fraction thereof for the first seven days and $20 a day thereafter.
Kim said OCP can investigate the situation to see if you were overcharged or if the fees followed the law.
Question: My husband and I like to walk in our neighborhood, which involves crossing a very busy street. Because of the number of pedestrian accidents recently, we decided to protect ourselves. I wear a bright yellow vest with reflective stripes, which I purchased at Home Depot (the same that road workers wear) and my husband wears a bright-yellow polo shirt and walks with a cane. We can see the cars coming down the street (obviously exceeding the 25 mph speed limit) but the drivers slow down or stop when they see us. This obviously works for us on our walks. Wouldn’t it be a safer place if all pedestrians take steps to make themselves more visible?
Answer: You and your husband are wise to protect yourself with that simple precaution.
In fact, the state Department of Transportation has a Walk Wise Hawai‘i brochure with the same tip: “Wear bright or light colored clothing when out walking or jogging. Wear retro-reflective materials at night.”
You can download the multilingual brochure from the DOT’s website — is.gd/qiiINm.
The Honolulu Police Department also has tips for both safe walking and driving in its Pedestrian and Driver Safety brochure — is.gd/J99ttd.
MAHALO
To the young man who unexpectedly paid our lunch bill at Uncle’s Fish Market and Grill recently. My mother, a World War II Coast Guard veteran, was deeply touched by your thoughtfulness. You left before my mom and I could thank you. But you can be sure that we’ll “pay it forward.” —
Trish Saunders
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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.
