Question: Regarding the article about people now being able to put their veteran’s status on their driver’s license: There was no mention about charges. I called the driver’s licensing division and was told there will be a $6 charge. Is this correct?
Answer: Yes, if you want the "veteran" designation on your license, instructional permit or state ID before your next renewal period.
In that case, you would apply for a duplicate and pay the standard $6 duplicate fee, said Sheri Kajiwara, director of the city Department of Customer Services.
If you are applying for or renewing a driver’s license/permit or state ID, the standard fees apply.
There is no extra charge for the designation, which became available Oct. 1 to anyone who served in any of the U.S. armed services.
The only restriction is that the person did not receive a dishonorable discharge.
To get the "veteran" designation, you must present at least one document to verify the veteran status. The most common is DD Form 214 (certificate of release or discharge from active duty), Kajiwara said.
Other acceptable documents: NGB Form 22 (National Guard report of separation from active duty); before Jan. 1, 1950: WD AGO 53, WD AGO 55, WD AGO, 53-55, NAVPERS 553, NAVMC 78PD, NAVCG 553; discharge certificate reflecting characterization of discharge; verification letter issued by the Veterans Administration; or verification letter issued by the Office of Veteran Services.
Applicants looking for a veteran’s document can check online at the National Archives website, www.archives.gov/veterans/faq.html. (The National Archives and Records Administration is described as "the nation’s record keeper," preserving records available to the public that might contain clues about a family’s history, prove a veteran’s military service or be of historical interest.)
Applicants may also call the National Personnel Records Center at 314-801-0800 or the Hawaii State Office of Veterans Services, 433-0420; or write to Tripler Army Medical Center, 459 Patterson Road, E-Wing, Room 1-A103, Honolulu, HI 96819-1522.
For more information, contact your county driver’s license/state ID office. On Oahu call 532-7730.
Question: When will the Better Business Bureau have its next free shredding event? It’s usually in October at McKinley High School, but I haven’t seen anything about it.
Answer: This year’s "BBB Secure Your ID Day" will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the following locations on Oahu: McKinley High School, entrance off of Pensacola Street; Castle High School; and the Access Information Management Oahu Destruction Center, 98-736 Moanalua Loop.
Access Information will accept up to two boxes of papers, CDs and floppy disks for free destruction. Paper documents should be removed from binders, but staples and paper clips can be left to be shredded.
You can also bring in unwanted cellphones to be refurbished and donated to victims of domestic violence through Verizon’s Hope Line.
Verizon Wireless will remove all user content from the phones, but consumers are encouraged to remove their own data beforehand.
Additionally, Pacific Corporate Solutions will accept old laptops, CPUs and servers for secure hard-drive destruction at the Oahu locations,
Meanwhile, Hawaii’s BBB staff, First Hawaiian Bank and Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii volunteers will be available to provide advice and tips to protect against identity theft.
Mahalo
To the driver licensing staff at the Koolau office, especially Ms. Kauanoe (Kaui) Johnson. We hear a lot of complaints about the driver licensing department, but everyone at the Koolau bureau is kind and helpful, even when there’s a line of customers. They have so many people to deal with. Kauanoe in particular is soft-spoken and answered my questions with care. I thank them all and give them my blessings. — Grateful Senior
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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.
