Police plan crackdown on cars at stadium

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

Police yesterday warned they will crack down on illegally parked vehicles around Aloha Stadium during the University of Hawai'i football game on Saturday.

HPD Maj. Robert Prasser of the department's traffic division said vehicles parked illegally will be cited and/or towed on Saturday.

Prasser said the problem is getting out of hand, with surrounding residents complaining about vehicles blocking driveways and hydrants during the Aug. 31 home opener against Eastern Illinois.

Prasser said other motorists are parking too close to intersections, on the freeways, and on grass medials along busy roads such as nearby Moanalua Road.

Prasser said owners of four-wheel-drive vehicles have parked atop the old 'Aiea cemetery across from the stadium.

"We had reports of people backing their vehicles off the freeway grass medials into traffic, and people running across the freeways and other busy roads to get to the stadium, so we're going to call it," Prasser said.

"The whole purpose of this is not to write up more tickets; our concern is safety."

Parking at Aloha Stadium this year was increased from $3 to $5, which area residents and merchants worried would contribute to the illegal parking.

Prasser said Pearl City police officers on Friday will use yellow police tape to cordon off areas frequently used for illegal parking. Several extra solo bike officers will be on duty Saturday, along with extra parking enforcement officers.

For Saturday's game against Southern Methodist University, a sufficient amount of officers will be assigned to direct traffic before and after the game as normally done throughout the season, he said.

Stadium manager Edwin Hayashi said there are about 8,000 marked parking stalls at the stadium. Stadium gates open at 2:30 p.m. and usually fills up at 5 p.m.

Alternative parking sites include:

• Kam Drive-In, $5 per vehicle, free shuttle service
• Leeward Community College, free parking with $2 round-trip shuttle service.
• Radford High School, $3 per vehicle, no shuttle service.

Shuttle service runs 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. and 9 to 10 p.m. Tailgating is not allowed at the alternative sites. Tune in to KKEA 1420 AM for parking and traffic advisories beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday.

For more information call 486-9511.