Question: Thanks for the information about the parking (808ne.ws/44kline). I have a related question regarding commercial vehicles. A neighbor runs a hauling business and parks his truck on the street in front of his house. It’s huge. I told him I don’t think that’s allowed but he said, “Nobody told me.” Then he said he can’t park in his driveway because that would block the sidewalk (the truck is that big), plus he doesn’t want to crack his own concrete (the truck is that heavy). Auwe! Is this legal?
Answer: It depends on the size of the truck. Sec. 15-16.6 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (808ne.ws/commveh) prohibits the “storage parking” on public streets of commercial vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 10,000 pounds or are at least 20 feet long. No sign is required to alert your neighbor (or anyone else) of this rule.
You didn’t say exactly what kind of truck your neighbor parks at home after work, but even some heavy-duty pickup trucks would exceed the weight rule, according to our quick internet search. Box trucks, walk-in trucks and other large commercial vehicles seem more likely to exceed both standards. The ordinance uses the word “or,” so the vehicle need not meet both standards to be in violation.
The law states that except for certain exceptions, “it is unlawful for the driver or owner of any bus, truck, truck-trailer, trailer, van, house trailer or other vehicle used for commercial purposes whose gross vehicle weight rating is 10,000 pounds or more or whose vehicle length from bumper to bumper is 20 feet or more to park the same or permit the same to be parked, stand or remain motionless for a period in excess of four hours on any public street.” Such a vehicle would be subject to all the usual penalties, including ticketing and towing.
The law provides exceptions for construction equipment and public utility vehicles, “but only when such equipment and vehicles are actively being used for repair or construction work,” as well as for vehicles “actively being used to load goods, wares or merchandise.”
As for your neighbor’s comment about the sidewalk, yes, it would be illegal for him to block any portion of it with any vehicle, commercial or otherwise. That’s covered in ROH Sec. 15-14.2. To address another common Kokua Line question, yes, the prohibition does apply to a sidewalk immediately adjacent to a homeowner’s driveway. The driveway may be private property, but the sidewalk is not.
Auwe
Auwe to the group of young women exercising in the Leahi Millennium Peace Garden at Diamond Head on Sunday morning, March 25. We did not appreciate your loud amplified “music” while you exercised. Please use headphones or earphones so you don’t subject others to your “music,” which very much distracted from the serenity, beauty and quiet enjoyment of the garden. — Mahalo, Aunty J
Mahalo
Mahalo to the person who found my glasses on the sidewalk in front of Ross at Ala Moana Center. You picked them up and placed them on a nearby bench. You did exactly the right thing and saved me $400! — A grateful reader
Mahalo
My husband and I returned from Vegas April 2 and as he reached for our luggage, he lost his balance and his glasses. We searched the area and could not find them. As we were speaking to the airline agent, a gentleman, who was standing next to us when the mishap occurred, appeared with my hubby’s glasses. He took the time to double check the area and found them. We are ever so thankful to him. Mahalo plenty! — From a grateful hubby and wife
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.
