By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Staff Writer

Q: Last year, I paid an extra $25 to get a new license plate with a sticker on it that says "Bishop Museum," with the understanding that the nonprofit organization would receive part of the $25. This year, when my registration renewal packet arrived, it included an extra $25 once again. The city office I called said that I had to pay annually for "special plates." Is this just a profit-making venture by the city? I did not receive a new license plate again this year.

A: The purpose of the organizational license plate program is to provide a continuous source of revenue for nonprofit organizations, said Dennis Kamimura, administrator for the city Division of Motor Vehicles. "When a person applies for any organizational license plate, they sign the application form that they agree to pay the $25 fee upon initial registration and each subsequent renewal," Kamimura said.

Of the $25 collected, $20 is for the organization, and $5 goes to the county for administrative costs. If you no longer wish to pay the fee and prefer to go back to regular plates, you may surrender the plates with the DMV and get a replacement for $5.50.

Q: One of the most dangerous traffic areas on O'ahu, in my opinion, is the town-bound merge at the junction of the H-1 and H-2 freeways. There are cars from the left, speediest lane of the H-1 merging with the right, slowest lane of the H-2. Who is supposed to yield?

A: H-2 traffic is merging into H-1, which has a continuous route toward town, according to Scott Ishikawa, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation. So the H-2 (and particularly the right lane) at that juncture is acting as a ramp feeding into the H-1. Traffic coming from the right lane of the Wahiawa-Mililani, H-2 side should slow and yield to traffic in the left lane from the Wai'anae-'Ewa, H-1 side.

Web Site of the Day: Are you a procrastinator who waits until the last minute to renew your vehicle registration, and ends up stuck in a line at a satellite city hall? Save time by renewing your registration online at any hour at https://www4.co.honolulu.hi.us/mvrreg/default.asp. Check the Web page to see if you qualify, and have your Visa or Mastercard ready.

It takes about two days for the sticker to arrive in the mail, so don't wait until the absolutely last minute.

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.