By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Staff Writer

Q. We have had a canopy tarp structure covering our car in our driveway for a year. Recently, an inspector from the Department of Planning and Permitting ordered us to take it down or risk being fined up to $100 a day.

What gives? These things are sold at Car Quest and other places in packaging showing vehicles inside them. The inspector told me that the city will let individuals use it on their property until people complain about specific incidents. Is that fair?

A. If you intend to put up a tarp structure for more than a day or two, the city requires you to obtain a temporary building permit from the Department of Planning and Permitting because it meets the definition of a building.

The permit is good for 30 days and is not renewable. The permit application asks you about intended use — and covering a car is not acceptable even though some packaging may show images of vehicles inside the tarp, according to city officials.

Typically, a month-long permit is allowed for commercial or religious purposes including rallies, festivals, amusements and sideshows.

City officials say merchants often sell the tarps without notifying homeowners that they need permits.

"We try to contact the vendors that we know are selling these that they need to let their customers know of these restrictions," said Eric Crispin, director of planning and permitting. "Clearly they are selling these to unsuspecting buyers who will be fined once neighbors call us to file a complaint."

Q. Thanks for the question on traffic cameras on cable TV. But as notorious as the traffic is on Fort Weaver Road, we don't have cameras for traffic into and out of 'Ewa. When does the city intend to have them available?

A. While the traffic cameras are run by the city Department of Transportation Services, Fort Weaver Road is a state highway. State Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Ishikawa said traffic cameras will go up along that busy route as part of the Fort Weaver Road widening project, scheduled to begin in March.

Two cameras will be installed during the first phase, scheduled for completion by March 2005, between Farrington Highway and Laulaunui Street fronting St. Francis Medical Center-West, Ishikawa said.

Six additional cameras will be installed along major intersections from Laulaunui to Geiger during the second phase of the project. Planning for that phase has been delayed several months after the design firm that had been hired went out of business.

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.