Question: Recently a television newscast talked about illegal car window tinting and a new law. Can you explain window tinting that is legal, what the law is about, when the law will take effect and how can tinting be "tested" for percentage of darkness?
Answer: There is no new law, but a new safety check procedure is probably prompting safety inspection stations to make sure any window tinting is legal.
The state Department of Transportation’s Electronic Periodic Vehicle Inspection Reporting Program, which allows certificates of inspection to be recorded overnight, took effect in November.
Among other things, it requires safety inspection stations to take a photo or photos of the inspected vehicle. (See bit.ly/1nCfLr4.)
Safety inspection stations are required to have a light transmission test for vehicles with tinted windows and are allowed to charge an additional $5 maximum fee for the test.
"The law and testing requirements (for tinted windows) have not changed in years," said Sheri Kajiwara, director of the city Department of Customer Services.
She explained that for vehicles built on a car chassis, any transparent material applied to glazing must have a light transmittance of at least 35 percent, plus or minus 6 percent.
"The exception to all of this is that there are no restrictions on the side and rear windows on vans, minivans, trucks or buses equipped with rearview mirrors on both sides," Kajiwara said, pointing to Section 291-21.5(d)(9) of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.
We’ve addressed complaints over the years that many vehicles are too darkly tinted.
However, a state Department of Transportation motor vehicle safety official previously explained that the state is satisfied with only 35 percent light transmittance compared with the federal standard of 75 percent transmittance.
That’s because the state is concerned not so much with visibility, but with "heat in vehicles," he said.
"Stricter adherence required of the new electronic safety inspection program … is contributing to inspection stations paying better attention to the rules," Kajiwara said. "The system requires photos to be taken of the vehicle from different angles, which is resulting in the inspectors adhering closer to the safety inspection rules."
Question: They’ve been doing major repaving work in Kailua for months now — even Wanaao Road is smooth! What do they do with all the old asphalt that they grind off the road? Recycle it somehow, I hope.
Answer: Yes, the old asphalt is recycled, said Chris Takashige, the outgoing director of the city Department of Design and Construction.
That’s because contractors consider the material "like gold" to them in terms of reuse or sales, he said.
Takashige said the asphalt removed from the top of old roadways is recycled in two ways. One, it may be hauled to a contractor’s mixing plant, where it is "rejuvenated" when mixed with new material and used as new asphalt concrete or a treated base.
It may also be sold to private landowners to cover private roadways.
MAHALO
To city and state employees who do not get recognized for the hard work involved with all of the roadwork ongoing around Hono lulu. Mostly we hear complaints about traffic tie-ups and delays. Understandably, this is catch-up following years of neglect, and there’s no great time to do this work. But, I want to say thanks to the city and state for doing what has to be done, and for me the face of the city has been people like Neal Tran, a city inspector, an engaging young man who patiently explained the ongoing work, the challenges of each repaving job and his interest in getting the job done well. Road Builders project Manager "Solo" Pamatigan and foreman Chad, too, are great on-the-ground representatives of hardworking crews working efficiently to make sure our streets are repaired as quickly as possible. Thanks, gentlemen, for your great work! — Walt Ozawa
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