By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Staff Writer

Q. I would like to know if it is legal for an 18-wheel vehicle to park on a residential street. It is parked just beyond a curve and blocks the view of the street, oncoming cars and any children on the street for drivers negotiating the curve.

A. There may be two violations here, said police spokeswoman Michelle Yu.

First, city ordinances say it is unlawful for a commercial vehicle with a gross vehicle rating of 10,000 pounds or more, or whose length from bumper to bumper is 20 feet or more, to park on a public street for longer than four hours.

The assumption, of course, is that the 18-wheeler you speak of is a commercial vehicle. Exceptions are construction equipment and public utility equipment vehicles used for repair or construction, or active loading and unloading.

Another section of the ordinance makes it illegal for any vehicle to be parked "within an intersection, along the edges or curbsides around corners and in channelized areas of any two intersecting streets," Yu said.

If you believe a vehicle is in violation of either ordinance, call 911 and an officer will be sent to the scene.

Q. Can anything be done about an overgrown tree that is on private property? The overgrown tree blocks visibility of traffic and parking signs, and its extending branches often are hit by large trucks. I've heard that the problem has been addressed in the past by the police but nothing seems to have come out of it.

A. A private tree that blocks a traffic sign or causes a hazard to vehicular traffic should be reported to HPD for enforcement and corrective action, said city spokeswoman Carol Costa.

In your particular case, Costa forwarded to police the address you gave us. An officer was sent to investigate. The owner was contacted, and he has promised to take care of the overgrowth within the next couple of days.

Q. Is there a plan to put in a traffic signal at the intersection of Paiea and Koapaka streets near the airport? That intersection is very congested during rush hour and a new Starbucks there is making the intersection even busier. I have seen three accidents there in the past few months.

A. Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Ishikawa said the DOT Highways Division is looking into whether a traffic signal is needed at that intersection.

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.