Question: Does a restaurant need a liquor license if it advertises “bring your own beer?”
Answer: No, unless the BYOB (aka “bring your own bottle/beverage/booze”) policy extends beyond midnight.
If a restaurant wishes to allow consumption by BYOB’ers between midnight and 2 a.m., it must obtain a Class 17 license, said Anna Hirai, acting administrator of the Honolulu Liquor Commission.
Otherwise, BYOB consumption is limited to the hours of 6 a.m. to midnight, and the restaurant cannot permit consumption by minors, disorderly or over-intoxicated persons, or persons “known to be addicted to the excessive use of liquor,” she said.
The Class 17 “bring-your-own-beverage license” was added to the state’s liquor licensing law in 2010.
Legislators thought that liquor control departments in counties with populations in excess of 500,000 should be able to permit BYOB consumption after midnight, but with greater controls and allowing public comment, she said.
The commission has yet to adopt rules for the new license, so no Class 17 licenses have been issued so far, Hirai said.
Since the Class 17 license was established, she said the commission has received only one inquiry.
Question: Approximately 6:50 a.m. Tuesday, May 21, I had a green light and proceeded to turn right from Lunalilo Home Road onto Wailua Street. As I was driving into the crosswalk, a man and woman jogged into the crosswalk, which showed a red blinking hand and five seconds left. The woman motioned me to halt, pointing to the blinking hand. As I’m driving away I see her glaring at me. Lady, before you act like judge and jury, know the law. Can you let her and others know that a pedestrian is only supposed to enter a crosswalk when it is safe to do so? With a crossing signal, the pedestrian shall only enter the crosswalk when the white walk signal is on. Once the red blinking hand is on, pedestrians are NOT to enter the crosswalk.
Answer: You are correct. If a police officer had witnessed the scene, the joggers could have been cited and fined $130.
We’ve explained the law previously, most recently in 2011, after Honolulu police officers conducted a pedestrian safety campaign to remind pedestrians what the blinking signals mean (see is.gd/hXOgV5).
But it appears many people continue to believe the flashing countdown is there to let them know how much time is left to cross.
Section 291C-33 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes says if there is a “Don’t Walk” or upraised palm shown at a crossing, “No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal, whether flashing or steady, but any pedestrian who has partially completed the pedestrian’s crossing on the ‘Walk’ or walking person signal shall complete the crossing to a sidewalk or safety island while the ‘Don’t Walk’ or upraised palm signal is showing.”
The numbers counting down are meant to let the pedestrians already in the crosswalk know how much time is left, according to HPD.
The danger is that pedestrians who enter when the numbers are counting down are rushing, putting themselves at higher risk.
MAHALO
To Colette Oshiro from Kailua for going out of her way to return my class ring that I lost 50 years ago. She received help from the assistant librarian from the school. Thanks again Colette.
— Linda Aipa
AUWE
To the driver of the gold Honda parked next to a handicap stall in front of the Ross department store on Ward Avenue on Tuesday, May 14. You were parked so close, my son who walks with a cane and has a foot boot couldn’t get into the driver’s seat or even open the door! Shame on you!
— K. Hanawahine