Sign makers like new rule
By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer
The most sweeping rule changes for Hawai'i in decades to parking spaces for people with disabilities went into effect July 1, but businesses are still scrambling to comply and in the process have created a boom for Hawai'i sign companies.
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"Everybody called and panicked and freaked out," said Mark Sperling, who handles orders for Island Sign Service Inc. "They were all paranoid and panicked. They thought the cops were going to come out and bust them."
Updated signs for disabled parking spaces note the maximum fine for violators is now $500.
State officials and Honolulu police are happy that many businesses and others responsible for providing accessible parking seem to be making an effort to meet the new requirements. So they don't expect to see maximum penalties of $500 a day enforced for at least a few months.
They've been faxing and e-mailing hundreds of information packets to businesses around Hawai'i and to hotel and restaurant associations. "We ran our fax machine out on a regular basis," said Francine Wai, executive director of the state Disability and Communication Access Board that wrote the new rules.
Police volunteers who ticket drivers who park in stalls intended for disabled people also have been passing out information packets on the rules, instead of immediately citing businesses.
"The Police Department role is basically identification and education at this point," said Sgt. Bart Canada, who coordinates the Honolulu Police Department's accessible-parking enforcement program. "We want to identify the problem areas and educate the businesses in how to become compliant. We'll get involved with enforcement later."
The new rules affect an estimated 10,000 spaces in Hawai'i — and every state or county agency and private business that has them on its property.
Each stall now must be painted with stripes on one side to designate a 5- or 8-foot "access aisle" for people who may need extra room to get out of a vehicle or use a wheelchair lift. A new sign that reads "No Parking Access Aisle" also must be posted at the head of every aisle that is van-accessible.
And the most common sign, which has a picture of a person in a wheelchair, must be modified so the maximum fine reads $500 — instead of $300 — for illegally parking. The minimum fine is $250.
Wai has acknowledged that officials initially did a poor job of notifying the public about the changes. But the attention that's been generated since then has made many businesses realize they weren't even complying with the old regulations, Wai said.
"We're actually very, very pleased at how people have responded," Wai said. "Nobody truly called us to object, as much as to express frustration that they didn't have much notice. I would hope that those people who know about it now will be in compliance in another month."
Many other businesses also called Wai's office to find out whether they were even required to provide accessible parking spots.
The changes cost retailers such as Kmart on Kaua'i about $400 to retrofit 15 parking spots.
"It was just something we had to do so we complied," said manager Bill Watkins.
The new rules go beyond federal requirements. They were written, Wai said, to make it harder for drivers to claim in court that they were unaware of the law.
The rush to comply with the new rules has meant good times at Honolulu Sign Co.
"We sold out all of our inventory in three hours and people started phoning in and getting on a waiting list," said company president Terry Rotz.
In just the next week alone, the company sold 1,700 signs to major hotels, parking lot companies and other businesses.
At Island Sign Service, "It really boosted our business," Sperling said. "They ought to write laws like that more often."
For more information, call the Disability and Communication Access Board at 586-8121 or find the rules at www.hawaii.gov/health/dcab/adminrules/ch11-219index.htm.
Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8085.
