Question: Were any charges brought against the bicyclist who knocked down an elderly lady on Hotel Street some weeks ago? She died as a result, and I believe that may be because of an illegal act by the cyclist. If he was riding on the sidewalk, that’s not allowed in the downtown business district. If he was riding on Fort Street Mall, ditto, no cycling allowed. And if he was riding on Hotel Street, isn’t that also illegal — only buses, emergency vehicles, police cars, etc., allowed?
Answer: An investigation into the death of 80-year-old Dionicia Leoning, who was struck by a bicyclist while crossing Hotel Street on April 1, has been classified “an accident,” said Michelle Yu, spokeswoman for the Honolulu Police Department.
The bicyclist was not arrested or charged.
Although initial reports said the bicyclist disregarded a red light while traveling east on Hotel Street, Yu said the investigation determined that Leoning “walked into the path of the bicyclist.” The bicyclist did not run a red light, she said.
Regarding whether the bicyclist was traveling illegally, Yu said bicycles are not allowed on Chinatown sidewalks, but they are “allowed on Hotel Street — the street itself.”
Question: Is there a law stating that if a person is traveling with a dog in a car, the dog must be secured in a safety harness?
Answer: No, but it’s not supposed to be sitting in the driver’s lap, either.
The city does have a law, Section 15-24.22 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, that says “no dog or any other animal shall be transported on any public street or highway in any vehicle unless such animal is totally enclosed within such vehicle, within a secured container carried upon such vehicle, or securely cross-tethered to such vehicle in such a way as to prevent the animal from falling out of or off such vehicle, and to prevent injury to the animal.”
But while dogs in an enclosed vehicle don’t have to be otherwise confined, state law says they are not to be held by a driver.
Under Section 291C-124 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, dealing with “obstruction to driver’s view or driving mechanism,” one provision says, “While operating a motor vehicle, no person shall hold in the person’s lap, or allow to be in the driver’s immediate area, any person, animal, or object which interferes with the driver’s control over the driving mechanism of the vehicle.”
You can find state and county laws dealing with animals on the Hawaiian Humane Society website: www.hawaiianhumane.org/current-laws.html.
Mahalo
To Zane Tallis and Jeremy Whiteaker of the engine crew of the USS Carl Vinson. On Thursday, May 17, after a business lunch near Pearlridge Center, I had a flat tire. I thought I could make it to a gas station, but quickly realized this was not going to happen and pulled over on a hilly side street.
The two young men, walking nearby, asked if I needed assistance. I thanked them but said that I could call someone. But they said that it would only take them a few seconds to replace the tire if I had a spare. It took longer than expected because the jack was quite small and we were on a hill. As we chatted, I found out they were here briefly with the Carl Vinson on their way home from being deployed in the war zone. That is when I felt tears in my eyes. They had been deployed, serving our country, and on their few minutes of time off they spent it changing my tire. They hesitated to give me their names when I asked, because they truly helped me out of the kindness of their hearts. But I insisted on mailing their families some chocolates to thank them. Zane Tallis and Jeremy Whiteaker are a tremendous reflection of the men and women who serve our country, and I consider myself fortunate to have crossed their paths. Not just because they changed my tire, but because they reminded me how important kindness and decency are in our daily lives. — Marie Kumabe
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