Kokua Line
By June Watanabe
Tuesday, October 13, 1998
Kokua Line
When will cameras be installed at intersections to photograph drivers that run red lights? I'm afraid I'll be hit by one of those cars one day. Video cameras OK’d
to nab traffic violatorsThe state Legislature this year approved Senate Bill 632, which sets up a three-year demonstration project for video cameras to be installed on state or county highways to catch red light violators and speeders.
In its report, the House Judiciary Committee said installation of the systems "can alleviate the growing problems of speeding and disregarding red lights on Oahu." They also "do not require a lot of manpower, free(ing) up police officers to handle other problems."
The state Department of Transportation hopes to send out "RFPs," requests for proposals, to potential vendors by year's end, spokeswoman Marilyn Kali said.
It's up to the DOT to "qualify the vendors," to make sure they meet the minimum requirements.
After that, the county would pick a vendor from the list of qualifiers and come up with its own contract. "Photo red light imaging detectors" could then be installed at 25 intersections and "photo speed imaging detectors" could be installed at 25 locations.
The contracted vendor would handle everything, from setting up the cameras to collecting the fines. It's supposed to be a self-sufficient operation.
"It will be a boon to safety," said Capt. Mike Hama, of HPD's Traffic Division.
Why don't different radio stations operate through the Pali and Likelike tunnels? Specifically, every morning, about 8 a.m., when I'm going to work through the Wilson Tunnel, I can't get KSSK and about 6 p.m., when I'm returning through the Pali Tunnels, I can't get KHNR.
The power amplifiers in both the tunnels went out about two weeks ago because of a "power glitch."
"They are working on it," an engineering technician for the state Department of Transportation said last week.
It's a matter of getting parts so it wasn't known when the problem would be corrected.
There was no explanation as to why the amplifiers, which serve to boost power, in both tunnels were affected at the same time.
Will there be a canned goods drive this year?
You can always contribute to the Hawaii Foodbank, which distributes food to different agencies. You can also call ASK-2000 (275-2000) for the names of agencies that could use donations.
This just happens to be National Food Bank Week, sponsored by Second Harvest, the largest hunger-relief organization in the nation. The goal is to increase awareness of domestic hunger and what food banks do to alleviate it.
Groups or companies will sometimes do their own food drives to contribute to the Hawaii Foodbank, said spokeswoman Bleu Blakslee.
In those cases, people can call the Foodbank (836-3600) and arrangements will be made to send a driver to pick up the donations.
If you are just cleaning out your pantry and want to make an individual donation, drop it off at 2611-A Kilihau St. in Kailua, 7 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, and 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays.
If you live on the Waianae Coast, call the Foodbank and you will be linked up to one of the agencies in the area, Blakslee said.
To police Officer Harry Coelho and his family. He was not on duty when we asked for help and directions when we were in Hawaii recently, yet he, his lovely wife and two beautiful children all treated us with the utmost courtesy. -- Carleen S. Leggett, Valerie F. Sedlak and Joseph L. Overton -- Morgan State University Mahalo
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com
