Alamo offers legal aid to rental customers

By David Butts
Advertiser Staff Writer

Alamo Rent-a-Car, the nation's sixth-largest rental-car company, began testing a program yesterday in Honolulu that gives customers the option to pay an additional $4 a day in exchange for legal services and representation should they get a traffic ticket.

The Ticket Defense Service provides attorney representation on a driver's behalf if the renter is unable to appear in traffic court, except in cases of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

"The idea is to help people who make an honest mistake and need some representation," said David Gilman, a spokesman for Alamo.

But Sen. Cal Kawamoto, D-19th (Waipahu, Pearl City), said yesterday that the program could encourage drivers to skirt traffic rules.

Gilman said Alamo is only trying to help drivers who may make a mistake because they are not familiar with roads in Hawai'i.

The program is being tested in Honolulu and Phoenix through November.

The legal representation will be provided through Hyatt Legal Plans, a unit of MetLife Inc. Alamo said that renters who get a ticket and have the coverage can get in touch with Hyatt, which will then refer them to a local attorney. The attorney would represent the renter in resolving the ticket at no cost; fines and court costs are extra.