Question: Why don’t the police do house checks anymore, like they used to when people were on vacation?
Answer: The Honolulu Police Department discontinued the security service as of Monday, citing widespread availability of home security systems and surveillance cameras for use by homeowners.
In the old days, an Oahu resident who would be away from their single-family home for five to 30 consecutive days could call 911 and request that a uniformed, on-duty officer regularly check their vacant property, a service known as a house check.
HPD had announced last spring that the service would end Oct. 1.
“The department encourages residents to take steps to secure their home and valuables at all times. Some measures, such as securing sliding glass doors and louvered windows or trimming hedges to increase street visibility, can be done easily at little cost. Other steps may require more planning,” it said in announcing the change.
For information on how to prevent home burglaries and thefts, see 808ne.ws/hpdsec Opens in a new tab, an HPD brochure containing security tips and relevant HPD phone numbers around the island.
The brochure recommends home alarm systems as good deterrents and advises interested homeowners to get estimates from several established alarm companies.
Q: Thanks for the chart (808ne.ws/lic72 Opens in a new tab). Can the city change how long the driver’s licenses last for older drivers? What would it take? Might relieve the lines some.
A: No, the city cannot change driver license renewal cycles on its own. The rules are dictated in state law, so state lawmakers and the governor would have to approve.
Generally, a Hawaii driver’s license lasts four years for licensees 24 years and younger, eight years for drivers 25 to 71 and two years for drivers 72 and older, per Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 286-106 (see 808ne.ws/hrs286106 Opens in a new tab).
Kokua Line heard from others about Tuesday’s column (808ne.ws/102kline Opens in a new tab), which described licensing for older drivers and linked to a chart of rules around the country. At least 18 states require a shorter licensing duration for older drivers, but specifics vary by state.
Several readers we heard from supported the general idea, but said Hawaii’s limitation kicked in too young or that the licensing period was too short.
Going from eight years to four years would be better, one reader said, because “72 isn’t that old anymore.”
Another wanted to know about Florida’s law, because “there also are a lot of retirees and the weather is good.” She couldn’t click on the online chart herself, so we’ll answer here: In Florida, the license renewal cycle is eight years for the general population and six years for drivers who are 80 and older, according to the insurance industry chart we cited.
E Kala Mai
Morning traffic on Kalanianaole Highway was awful due to the water main break, but that was no reason to lose my cool. Nothing that bad (no road rage), but I did honk a few times about gridlock and I feel bad about that. Maybe the gridlockers feel bad too. — Hawaii Kai driver
Mahalo
My husband lost his wallet on Saturday and the person who found it went out of their way to deliver it right to our doorstep. We weren’t home at the time so we don’t know who the person is; their note was signed “God bless.” We wish we could have thanked them properly at the time. We hope they will see this message of gratitude. They got our address from my husband’s driver’s license and drove far out of their way to return the wallet, with everything intact. We are so grateful. Mahalo. — A reader
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.
