By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Staff Writer

Q. After a few rounds of drinks at a bar, my friends and I asked for some water. The bartender said it costs $2 for bottled water, and that the bar does not give people free glasses of water. Doesn't the law require bars and restaurants to serve water upon request? Especially bars, whose patrons might otherwise drink more alcohol?

A. Sorry, no such law exists. The city Board of Water Supply has a policy that instructs restaurants to not serve water to patrons until requested but that's intended as a water conservation measure, not to require establishments to provide water, said Denise DeCosta, BWS spokeswoman.

We checked with the city Liquor Commission and the state Department of Health, as well, but both agencies also found no provision.

Q. Several weeks ago, your column said to call 911 to report parking violations that pose hazards. Wouldn't such calls overload the emergency 911 line? A number of years ago there was a police dispatch number we could dial.

A. The Honolulu Police Department agrees that dialing 911 to report parking violations is not the best way to operate an emergency telephone system. That's why HPD is lobbying the Legislature for laws that would create a "311" system that would handle nonemergencies.

Lt. Charles Chong of HPD's Communications Division said Senate Bill 579 would give HPD the startup money to create such a 311 system. It figures to cost $3 million to $5 million. Bill 1127 would let the counties assess E911 and 311 surcharges on land lines and wireless telephones for the purpose of operating call centers for the two numbers.

Chong says more than 1 million calls are made to 911, roughly 80 percent of which go to the police department. Of those, about 75 percent are for nonemergencies. HPD hopes to have 311 in place by late 2004 or early 2005.

Q. Is it legal for a car to be parked facing oncoming traffic?

A: It is not, said Capt. Jose Gaytan of the Traffic Division. He encourages the public to report the violation, which is more dangerous than it appears, since to be in that position, a motorist had to drive on the wrong side of the road to get into the stall and would have to drive into oncoming traffic again on the way out.

Do you ever get frustrated or confused trying to navigate the various layers of government? Are you looking for an answer to a simple question but can't figure out where to start? If you have a question or a problem and need help getting to the right person, you can reach The Bureaucracy Buster one of three ways:

• e-mail: buster@honoluluadvertiser.com

• Phone: 535-2454 and leave a message.

Be sure to give us your name and daytime telephone number.