This story has been corrected. See below.
Question: I recently renewed my safety check on my van and was told that all stickers and decals on the front and rear windshields, excluding military stickers but including parking passes, are illegal and must be removed in order to receive my safety check. What are the rules regarding this? Is it the same for cars, trucks and vans?
Answer: The safety inspector’s concern would be whether the stickers or decals obstruct the driver’s clear view, and that goes for any vehicle, whether a car, truck or van, said Sheri Kajiwara, director of the city Department of Customer Services.
The pertinent law is Section 15-19.30(a) of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, which says, “No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sign, poster or other nontransparent material upon the front windshield, side wings, or side or rear windows of such vehicle which obstructs the driver’s clear view of the highway or any intersecting highway."
Stickers and decals generally are allowed in the lower corners of the windshield.
Section 291-21-5(d)(3) of the Hawaii Revised Statutes says signs, stickers or other materials may be displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest from the driver or displayed in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest the driver.
There are special exceptions given for military and police stickers or decals, Kajiwara confirmed.
Question: Sometime in 2012 landscape improvements were done on the section of Pali Highway between Hamakua Drive and the junction with Kalanianaole Highway. Many trees and palms were planted and are surviving and adding to the beauty of the landscape. However, approximately 10 of the coconut palms died and were supposed to be replaced this past summer. What’s the status of the replanting?
Answer: The latest word from the state Department of Transportation is that the coconut trees that died will be replaced as early as this month.
The Highways Division is still planning to replace the trees with six Pritchardia palms during this coming rainy season, said DOT spokeswoman Caroline Sluyter.
Crews are working with a nursery to purchase the palms and to schedule a time for planting, she said.
Sluyter told Kokua Line last year that the trees died because they didn’t thrive in that location and also were infested by bugs. The Pritchardia palms, which already can be found along Kailua Road, are described as being a “hardier” tree.
FREE SHREDDING
The AARP is sponsoring two free document-shredding events Saturday:
>> 8 a.m. to noon, Access Information Management Oahu Destruction Center, 98-736 Moanalua Loop, Aiea. Limit of four file boxes/bags.
>> 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Home Depot parking lot in Kapolei, involving AARP’s Waianae Chapter and Shred-it. Limit of two file boxes/bags.
AARP membership is not required. Just drive up and drop off. Staples and paper clips do not need to be removed.
Food donations will be accepted at both sites. Brown rice is the top priority and will be donated to Lanakila Meals on Wheels. All other donations will go to the Hawaii Foodbank.
MAHALO/AUWE
Mahalo to drivers who are smart enough to realize that lights (both front and rear) need to be on, night or day, when driving in a parking garage. Lights are not only so you can see. They also are so you can be seen. They project in front of the vehicle and reflect off of walls and parked vehicles, giving another driver a moment of warning to react. Peripheral vision can be a lifesaver. I’ve lived in a downtown condo for over 42 years and seen accidents and close calls attributed to the lack of illumination far too many times. Auwe to those who don’t get the message. Please slow down and “light up."
— Kedric Dean
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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.
CORRECTION: Staples and paper clips do not need to be removed for the document shredding events sponsored by AARP. An earlier verison of this story and a story on page B2 of the newspaper said they had to be removed.
