Question: What is the state sheriffs’ right to pull over motorists for traffic violations on city roads? I recently observed a motorist being pulled over. I didn’t realize sheriffs have such powers.
Answer: “The state of Hawaii Sheriff Division has statewide law enforcement jurisdiction. Under section 353C-4, HRS, state deputy sheriffs appointed by the state director of the Department of Public Safety shall have all of the powers of police officers,” said Toni Schwartz, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Safety.
HRS stands for Hawaii Revised Statutes; the section Schwartz mentioned can be read online at 808ne.ws/hrs353c4.
For a broad description of the Sheriff Division’s law enforcement functions, see Pages 85-90 of the Department of Public Safety’s annual report, at 808ne.ws/dpsrep.
Although the division has particular responsibility for people, property and buildings under state jurisdiction, including the Honolulu airport, the Judiciary, the state Capitol and state buildings within the civic center, its authority is not limited to those locations, the report says.
It specifically mentions statewide traffic enforcement. “Deputy Sheriffs promote the safe and efficient movement of traffic on public roadways through traffic management and enforcement of traffic laws, including investigations of traffic collisions, enforcement of statewide intoxicated-influenced driving laws, and issuance of citations for moving and parking violations,” the report says on Page 85.
Q: For the driver’s license, can I take the test at a satellite city hall?
A: No, you’ll have to go to a driver licensing center to take the written and/or road tests to get your Hawaii driver’s license. Those services are not offered at any of Oahu’s satellite city halls. Driver’s license renewals are available at four satellite city hall locations — Downtown, Hawaii Kai, Pearlridge and Windward — but not the testing required to initially obtain your license. Go online to 808ne.ws/ loclist to see a list of all driver licensing centers and satellite city halls and the services they offer.
Q: Auwe! I received a property assessment for a home I no longer own.
A: Write “sold” and the sale date on the notice and send it back to the city’s Real Property Assessment Division. Honolulu County’s real property assessment notifications are as of Oct. 1, so if you closed the sale after that, the new owner wouldn’t get the notice.
Auwe
Auwe to the silver Nissan Leaf with damage to its hood and front passenger panel for unplugging other electric vehicles and selfishly plugging in your car at Kahala Mall, with no consideration to others who wait patiently to charge their cars and support the mall’s tenants. May you be banned from complimentary charging as well as cursed in the future! — D.L.
Auwe and mahalo
Auwe to the person who left a garbage bag full of dry twigs on the Makakilo entrance ramp to the eastbound H-1, leaving me to hit it full-on because of cars on both sides of me. I mistakenly thought it had cleared away and continued driving. Mahalo to the young man in the Tesla (who left before I could get his name) who waved me over and helped me clear the bag, which had stuck under my car and was smoking. I wish him a merry Christmas. — Grateful driver
Mahalo
I am a senior citizen who stopped at the Aloha gas station on East Manoa Road last week to fill up. After taking my credit card out of my wallet to start filling, I laid the wallet down on the adjoining pedestal. Filled up and left. Big mahalo to the young fellow who turned the wallet in to the customer service man behind the counter. — R.S.
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.
