By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Q. I live on Paiko Drive, a small street with a speed limit of 15 mph. Signs are clearly posted. Despite this, many people speed on this street. It's a great concern because it is quite narrow and sometimes cars are parked on both sides of the street. How can I get speed bumps or something else to get people to slow down? I've talked to a lot of neighbors who are also concerned. They agree that something should be done.

A. Cheryl Soon, director of the Department of Transportation Services, said you can work with the Honolulu Police Department to see if there is a way to reduce speeding on your street.

Soon said the city uses signs and police to enforce the speed limit, in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which is the national standard approved by the Federal Highways Administrator.

HPD has been informed about your concerns and will be monitoring Paiko Drive for speeding. Soon said that residents can assist police by notifying them whenever violations are observed.

"Several communities have worked successfully with the HPD to curb speeding in their neighborhoods," Soon said.

She suggested that if you and your neighbors want to work together with law enforcement to develop alternative strategies to address the speeding problem, call HPD District 7 at 529-3362.

Q. Please tell me what the law is on mufflers. It seems there is an increase in either illegal or defective mufflers, mostly on young drivers' vehicles. What is the Hawai'i Revised Statute? Is it online somewhere?

A. The law requires motor vehicles to be equipped with mufflers to prevent excessive noise, smoke or fumes from being emitted. However, they also state that mufflers cannot be modified to amplify or increase motor noise.

Capt. Jose Gaytan of the Honolulu Police Department Traffic Division agreed that there are many loud and illegal mufflers on the street.

"We do like to enforce, but there are too many of them," he said. "The safety check stations are supposed to inspect the mufflers."

Police officers can then cite motorists for mufflers that are reconstructed or too noisy.

The state penalty for modified mufflers is a fine up to $100 for scooters, motorcycles and mopeds and up to to $250 for a motor vehicle.

You can find the muffler regulations in the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu 15-19.28 and in the Hawai'i Revised Statutes 291-22 through 24.5.

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