Question: On Dec. 15, I purchased a new 2011 automobile from a local dealership. When I picked up my new license plates on Dec. 29, I verified that the Certificate of Registration and license number matched. But I noticed the registration would expire on Nov. 30, 2011, not Dec. 31, 2011. Several other people I know have purchased new vehicles and found the same one-month discrepancy. If DMV is charging tax for 12 months but the customer is only getting 11 months of service, isn’t that illegal? Take that one month of free money and multiply that by the number of cars sold in this state and we are not talking chump change.

Answer: The state Department of Transportation sets the rules and regulations regarding motor vehicle registration.

As explained by the city Motor Vehicles and Licensing Division, vehicle registration fees are set accordingly for tax purposes, with taxes computed monthly.

A vehicle’s registration period is calculated beginning with the first day of the month of registration, said Dennis Kamimura, administrator of Motor Vehicle & Licensing.

So a vehicle first registered during any day of December will be charged 12 months of taxes and fees based on registration beginning Dec. 1 and ending Nov. 30 of the following year.

In contrast, safety inspection fees, which are not taxes, are covered by a different set of Transportation Department rules and regulations, Kamimura said.

Safety inspections are based on a calendar year and indicate the month of inspection.

The month of inspection is not counted as the first month of the inspection period (which is either 12 months or, for new vehicles, 24 months), Kamimura said.

"Therefore, if you obtain a safety inspection any day in December, your safety inspection period begins on Jan. 1 and ends Dec. 31."

Question: Last year, we had a rubbish calendar that showed the different colored rubbish containers and when they would be picked up by the month. We need another one this year. How do we get one?

Answer: If you have access to the Internet, you can find collection schedules online at www.opala.org.

Click on the link to "collection schedules" on the right side of the home page and type in your address.

"The new GIS (geographic information system) search tool will provide an information page with all the collection schedules for your specific street, plus the calendars, which can be printed for easy reference later," said Markus Owens, spokesman for the city Department of Environmental Services.

Or just call 768-3200 and a calendar will be mailed, he said. 

MAHALO

To a young man for being a good role model. I was at the very busy Sprint store in Pearl Kai on Jan. 15 to pick up a phone. As I waited, I observed a young man, I believe named Joshua, sitting and waiting. An employee asked how long he had been there and he said almost an hour. The employee apologized. Joshua was very gracious, saying he could see they were busy and that he didn’t want to hassle anyone. Shortly after, Joshua offered his seat to a woman, who refused it, then to an elderly woman, who accepted. I was getting impatient after waiting only 15 minutes, but seeing this young man’s behavior, I could only be ashamed of myself. I hope his mother is proud of him and his gentlemanly ways. Mahalo, Joshua, for allowing me to become a better person by seeing you. — Lori, Aiea

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