Question: Auwe! There is hardly any street parking left, and they tow you at the drop of a hat! I begged the guy to let me move my car, and they took it anyway! Is that legal?
Answer: No. “If you show up on the scene when your car is in the process of being hooked up or is already hooked up on the tow truck, the towing company must unhook your car upon your request and not charge you a fee,” according to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ Office of Consumer Protection.
You may report illegal towing to the DCCA’s Consumer Resource Center at 587-4272, a Honolulu number.
Q: We have been looking at apartments in town and were surprised that so many people leave their rubbish bagged on the curb, not even in a barrel. Currently, we live on an automated route, so I am not sure whether that is legal.
A: Yes, it can be, according to the city, assuming that the garbage is bagged properly and there’s no building association or other rule against it.
As you indicated, residential customers on the city’s automated refuse collection routes are issued three bins — gray, blue and green — in which to place their rubbish, mixed recyclables and yard trimmings, respectively.
However, other Oahu customers live on manual collection routes, where the process is different. On manual routes the “householder is responsible for providing containers no larger than 35 gallons. Non-durable containers, such as plastic bags, may be used if they are able to contain the refuse securely at all times,” according to the city Department of Environmental Services, which spells out the rules on its website, www.opala.org.
Refuse should not exceed 75 pounds per container.
Q: Where can we bring our old paint for disposal?
A: “Small quantities generated at home can be disposed of with your regular household rubbish. Latex paints can be hardened in the can, then thrown away. Oil-based paints must be solidified with an absorbent material, such as shredded paper, old rags, or sawdust, then sealed in a plastic bag. An oil change box provides the same results,” according to the city Department of Environmental Services.
This guidance would apply to you, since you clarified before publication that you are asking about a small quantity, such as a few partial cans left over from a household project.
The advice would be different if you were a commercial operator, who “must handle and dispose of paint in accordance with Environmental Protection Agency and state Department of Health guidelines,” according to the department.
Mahalo
Last month I was standing in line at a big-box store waiting to pay for my purchases. I had finally made it to the front of the line when I noticed an attractive local lady behind me with a big bottle of sweet chili sauce. “Wow!” I said. “I didn’t know Sam’s Club carried that! How much was it?” In response the lady said, “Do you want it?” I wanted it, but I wasn’t about to take hers and the last thing I wanted to do was get out of line to go hunt the chili sauce down and stand in line all over again. “No, that’s OK,” I said. “You sure?” The lady asked me again. “If you want it, take it.” And before I knew what had happened, I was holding the chili sauce, and her beautiful daughter had taken off back into the crowded store to get another bottle. I was so touched. I mean, who does that? That was pure aloha. I tried to tip her through her son, but he refused. I was blown away by her kindness and by the example she set for her children and grandchildren. I want her to know that she set the standard for how I want to live my life, every day. — Lisa T.
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.
