Question: We just missed the timely renewal of our car registration, because we were away for a while and had our mail forwarded to another address. A clerk at the Hawaii Kai satellite city office told us that this notice could not be forwarded. That meant it never came to our attention. If so, would they at least send us a note saying that an attempt was made to deliver the notice? Then, we could go to the post office to pick it up.

Answer: It’s true that the notice for registration renewal is not forwarded.

But sending a courtesy note after a notice is returned would not be an efficient option, said Sheri Kajiwara, director of the city Department of Customer Services.

She explained that mailings with personal information, such as for a driver’s license, a state ID, or motor vehicle registration card, are not forwarded to an alternate address or to a third party "for the recipient’s protection."

"We mail only to the address on record," she said.

If undeliverable, the department pays for the extra postal service, "Return Service Requested," as printed on each envelope.

"The post office does not usually inform us as to the reason it was not deliverable," Kajiwara said.

The majority of the time, she said, the envelope is returned because the addressee has moved and did not notify the city.

"Thus, the suggestion to send a courtesy notice to the same address telling them that we attempted delivery would probably not be a labor- or cost-efficient effort," she said.

We asked whether there was any recourse in a situation such as yours.

Kajiwara said renewal notices are sent 45 days prior to the renewal date as a courtesy reminder and as a convenient option for renewal.

"You do not need to wait for this notice to renew and can accomplish the task online — at www4.honolulu.gov/mvrreg/ — or at any satellite city hall on the island," she said. "The responsibility to renew registration lies with the vehicle owner. Not receiving the notice does not justify a request to waive late payment fees."

Kajiwara said that under state law, the registered owner of a vehicle and driver’s license holder is required to notify the motor vehicle division of an address change in writing within 30 days.

Federal Laws

Similarly, Kajiwara said the federal REALID law requires that mailings for licenses and IDs be sent only to the address on record to ensure that the recipient is the applicant and that the address is valid.

"This is the reason we no longer hand people their plastic card over the counter," she said. "A temporary paper card is provided, allowing documents to be verified if necessary, and the permanent card should arrive within two weeks time."

Also for security reasons, cards are mailed in unmarked envelopes with no DMV markings or ID announcements.

It’s not unusual that people will complain about not receiving their ID card in the mail only to discover that they had tossed it thinking it was junk mail, she said.

Mahalo

To the handsome gentleman in the nicest aloha shirt who pulled his big black truck over and helped me when I had a problem with my car. He got his tools out and fixed it for me right on the side of the freeway. I don’t remember his name, but he was from Ewa Beach. When I got to the service station, they said the repair was good and they didn’t have to do anything. — Old Lady in the Honda

Mahalo

To the HECO technicians who replaced my tire on Kalanianaole Highway. They immediately pulled over and offered to help when they saw me get a horrible flat on the highway while I was on my way to work. Moreover, they changed it to a spare in three minutes flat! They really saved me and all the other traffic that morning and I will share the aloha forward. — Leilani

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