QUESTION: My brother has been driving with an expired license for years. What would happen if he was pulled over by police and showed an expired license? What does he have to do to get his license renewed?

ANSWER: If he is caught, he would be cited for violating Section 286-102 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, which requires drivers to be "appropriately examined and duly licensed."

Then, he would have to appear in court, where a judge would determine the fine and other penalties, according to the Honolulu Police Department.

To get his license renewed, he would have to apply as a new applicant, because he hasn’t had a valid license for more than a year, said Dennis Kamimura, administrator of the city’s Motor Vehicle and Licensing Division.

That means having to take both the written test and the road test.

Under the law, you are not supposed to drive once your license expires. However, you can renew your Hawaii license without penalty up to 90 days after the expiration date.

After 90 days, you will be charged a reactivation fee of $5 for every 30 days or fraction thereof. After a year, you will be required to take the written and road tests to get a new license.

For more information, go to www.co.honolulu.hi.us/csd/vehicle/dlicense.htm.

Kapahulu Panhandler

The "auwe" from "Gullible Senior Citizen" about being taken by a young man (Kokua Line, Sept. 14) prompted several people to say they’ve encountered the panhandler in the Kapahulu area, including this account:

The young man working the Kapahulu neighborhood for "gas money" approached me three weeks ago at the Honolulu Zoo parking lot. He carried a plastic bag with empty plastic water bottles and said the gas station wanted $17.95 for a gas can to carry gas to his rental car and that Hawaii doesn’t allow carrying gas in empty water bottles. He said his car was "a long way from here on the Ala Wai." Suspecting a "con," I offered to walk him to his car, then call AAA to bring some gas. He said he was a tourist, questioned my "aloha," then left. He gets an A+ for creativity and F for ripping off residents. Take his picture with a cell phone and give it to HPD — they’ll show him some "aloha." — Warrior Woman

The Honolulu Police Department said it had not received any complaints about the panhandler.

However, it is not against the law in Honolulu to ask for a handout except in specific locations and manner.

Under the "Aggressive Panhandling" law (Section 29-17 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu) passed in 2008, "No person shall engage in aggressive panhandling within 10 feet in any direction of any automated teller machine, automated teller machine facility, or check cashing business."

Among other things, "aggressive panhandling" refers to someone persisting in soliciting money from, following, or approaching a person after being told no; intentionally making physical contact without the person’s consent; or being threatening while doing so.

Violators face a fine of $25.

Other than that, HPD previously has told Kokua Line that it is up to an individual to decide whether to give money to a stranger asking for a handout.

Mahalo

To the Parks and Recreation folks for replacing the swings at Ala Wai Community Park. The framework had sat empty for years, and now the swings are in constant use by smiling kids and adults. — David