Posted on: Thursday, July 22, 2004
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BUREAUCRACY BUSTER
Nickels, dimes only at library
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
Q. At the Hawai'i State Library, the microfilm copier in the area where you can view old newspapers charges 15 cents a page and requires exact change. So, I put in $1 worth of quarters, I still got only one copy and no change. The library does have a change machine that breaks bills into quarters, but doesn't break it into only dimes and nickels. Doesn't this seem like a bureaucratic punishment of some kind? To be fair, I didn't ask the staff if they would make change for me and maybe they would have, but it seems to me that the change machine would help rather than hinder customers. What's going on?
A. Hawai'i State Public Library spokesman Paul H. Mark confirmed that in the serial section of the basement of the main library, the printers that make copies of microfilm charge 15 cents a page.
To emphasize that point, he said the staff has placed several signs in that area. And they have printed out the signs in capital letters that say: "Exact change only. This machine does not give change. Deposit coins for one print only."
He said the copiers do not give change and it would be too expensive to reconfigure them so they could. Patrons can also go to the checkout desk on the first floor and request dimes and nickels from the cashier. You can get up to $5 worth of dimes and $2 worth of nickels per visit.
• • • Q. My safety-inspection stickers were stolen. What can I do to replace them?
A. Dennis Kamimura, city motor vehicle and licensing administrator, said you should go back to the inspection station where you got the stickers, explain what happened and ask for new stickers.
If the station sees a safety problem with your vehicle, the operator can require a new inspection.
Kamimura said the station may charge a fee of up to $5 to replace the stickers.
• • • Q. It is my understanding that a car's safety check is good for one year. If that's true, how come I see some cars with safety checks that expire in 2006 when it's only 2004? Also, I see some cars with safety checks that expire in, say, 10/2005, which I don't understand if 10/2004 hasn't occurred yet. Are there some safety checks that are good for more than one year?
A. State Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Ishikawa said new cars receive a two-year inspection when they are sold. All other vehicles need to be inspected annually, except ambulances which require inspection every six months.
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Honolulu, HI 96813
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