Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
Question: I tried to renew my motor vehicle registration online, but was told my current safety check was not on file. How long does it take to update safety check information? I submitted mine
on June 13, 42 days before I tried to renew. I went to the Pearlridge satellite city hall to renew, but after waiting in line for an hour, I saw the sign “no debit/credit cards accepted,” so had to go home for my checkbook.
If I can pay online with a credit/debit card, why can’t the city halls get in the 21st century and accept credit cards?
Answer: The city was backlogged in recording safety inspections a few months ago, but no more, according to Sheri Kajiwara, director of the city Department of Customer Services.
However, that doesn’t mean it still won’t take time before the certificates of inspection are recorded.
Under current rules, safety inspection stations have until the 15th of the month to submit the prior month’s completed certificates, Kajiwara explained. So May’s certificates were received by the city on June 15 and June’s certificates would have come in July 15.
Then, “Staff targets seven-10 days to go through all of the submittals from all stations across the island and review them for completeness and/or errors,” Kajiwara said. “The certificates are then boxed and sent for inputting that, on average, takes two to three weeks to complete.”
Barring any problem, it would take 21 to 31 days after a station turns in the certificates for the safety checks to be recorded.
Kajiwara said that “luckily” not many people face expired safety checks and expired car registrations in the same month.
Her advice to car owners who may face “a close call” is to include the safety check copy labeled “For Car Registration” given by the inspection station when mailing or going in person to renew a registration.
Regarding credit/debit card payments, her office is working with the Department of Budget and Fiscal Services to get that option.
The issue is that all the agencies that the satellite city halls collect payments for have to unanimously agree on accepting credit/ debit card payments, as well agree on whether all agencies will pay merchant fees or pass the fees on to the customer, she said.
Then, procedures have to be standardized to prevent confusion and complaints, she said.
ELECTRONIC REPORTING
Meanwhile, the state Department of Transportation’s Electronic Periodic Vehicle Inspection Reporting Program, which would allow certificates of inspection to be recorded overnight, is moving forward. Be prepared for fee increases.
Kajiwara said the state was finally able to issue a “Notice to Proceed” to the contractor on July 1 after resolving a protest filed by one of the losing bidders.
The contractor, Parsons Environment and Infrastructure Group Inc., has until Nov. 1 to install the statewide electronic reporting program, she said, but “is confident that they will be able to have an earlier implementation.”
The new program would eliminate the need to hire an outside company to input safety check information into the city’s system, but it will cost motorists more to get an inspection.
The DOT will increase inspection fees to $19.19, plus tax, from $14.70 plus tax for cars and light trucks; and to $13.24, plus tax, from $8.75 plus tax for motorcycles when the program is implemented, no later than Nov. 1, said spokeswoman Caroline Sluyter.
See is.gd/RsUtst for more information.
MAHALO
To the person who found my driver’s license at the Bionic Chevron Gas Station.
I purchased gas with my credit card and somehow dropped my license. Mahalo also to Movalynn and Lote who assured me that they had my license when I called the station to inquire. — LPM
———
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.
77