Parking meters near park demolished in truck chase

Question: On the parking meter side of Kalakaua Avenue along Kapiolani Park by Picnic Area 4 (across from the Waikiki Aquarium), there are two parking stalls that have no meters. Then, across from The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, there’s another stall that has no meter. What happened to the meters? Did someone steal them? How come the city doesn’t replace the meters?

Answer: A thief was responsible for the missing meters, but they were just part of his collateral damage.

On the night of June 29, a man police believe is homeless stole a dump truck with an attached trailer, then led police on a chase up and down Kalakaua Avenue, along Kapiolani Park, taking out some parking meters along the way.

He also damaged a couple of police cars.

The chase ended after the truck hit a coconut tree, the man bailed out of the truck and jumped into the ocean. After about 90 minutes, police arrested him off Sans Souci Beach.

Allen James Pitts, 43, subsequently was charged with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, reckless endangering and three counts of criminal property damage, according to the Honolulu Police Department.

The city Department of Transportation Services’ Transportation Planning staff, which oversees the parking meter program for the city, has issued three reminders about the missing meters, said DTS Director Michael Formby. One was sent to the Department of Facility Management, which installs the poles. Another went to HPD, which installs the meters. And the third to the Department of Parks and Recreation, which has jurisdiction of the area.

The cost to replace a pole and meter is about $600, he said. It’s not certain when the meters will be replaced.

Question: A friend had her car towed recently. She arrived just as the car was hooked up. The tow driver refused to drop her car because she was not the registered owner (her parents are), even though she had an insurance card with her name and the vehicle printed on it. The tow yard also had the same policy about claiming the car. We called police and it seems they were not aware of this. Is there a law stating that only registered owners can reclaim a vehicle, or is this just another strong-arm tactic to squeeze more money out of someone already in a bad situation.

Answer: We contacted the state Office of Consumer Protection and were told that your friend can file a complaint by calling the Consumer Resource Center at 587-4272 or by downloading a complaint form on OCP’s website: http://hawaii.gov/ dccafltar/ocp/consumer_ complaint.

Regarding ownership of a vehicle, under Section 290-11 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, which deals with towed vehicles, it says, "If the vehicle is in the process of being hooked up or is hooked up to the tow truck and the owner appears on the scene, the towing company shall unhook the vehicle and shall not charge any fee to the owner of the vehicle."

MAHALO

To Jeff Cummings, of the city Department of Facility Maintenance’s Road Maintenance Division. I noticed a haole koa tree growing in the culvert behind my home and was worried about the seeds falling in my yard. I called the department and was helped by Jeff. A couple of days later, the tree was removed. — P.T.

AUWE

To the gal driving a white Toyota Corolla in front of the Hawaii Kai Longs Drugs store on a late Sunday afternoon in September. Apparently, she was in such a huge hurry to get to Longs that she could not stop for my two children and me as we were crossing the road. She zipped around a corner and nearly hit us. I hope she finds some patience before she regrets her haste. —Concerned Mom

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