Honolulu police promise crackdown, arrests for reckless driving

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Honolulu police have a new warning for speeding motorists: Drive too fast and you face arrest for reckless driving.

A three-vehicle collision on H-1 Freeway near the westbound Waipahu off-ramp on Feb. 13 that killed four people and injured two others has prompted police to adopt a tougher stand on extreme speeding, reckless driving and racing.

The collision involved two cars that police said were racing and a truck setting up the zipper lane for the morning commute.

Now, officers are being encouraged to arrest rather than cite motorists for reckless driving at extremely high speeds, said Traffic Division Maj. Doug Miller.

"We're telling them to not just look at the simple offense of speeding but encouraging them to consider more serious speed-related offenses if the established elements (recklessness or racing) for it are there," Miller said. "Under our mindset right now, I would expect a higher number of arrests than citations.

"I don't think there's a more compelling argument (for arresting reckless drivers) than the carnage we're seeing on the roadways," Miller said.

Speeding is considered a traffic violation and not a crime. Motorists cited for speeding can avoid going to Traffic Court by paying fines by mail within 15 days of being issued a ticket.

Citations for speeds in excess of 41 miles above the limit will require a court appearance, where a traffic judge will set the fine.

Reckless driving, defined as operating a vehicle in disregard of the safety of persons or property, is a petty misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $1,000 and/or 30 days in jail. Highway racing is also a petty misdemeanor.

In a 27-month period from January 2002 through March 2004, police issued a total of 65,195 speeding citations and 1,452 tickets for reckless driving.

"We're convinced the motoring public has not heeded our warnings to slow down," Miller said. "We're still seeing these horrendous speed-related crashes and still hearing complaints of people driving well above the speed limit and racing."

Jacob Kunukau, who commutes daily from Salt Lake to Wahiawa, believes arresting reckless drivers is a step in the right direction. "It's more of an impact statement than a ticket," Kunukau said. "To me, it's a no-brainer."

Kunukau said speeding on O'ahu's roadways is blatant, especially between 10 p.m. and early morning. It's common to see people weaving through light traffic at high speeds. Kunakau has also encountered racers on the freeway.

Typically, three cars in separate lanes will slow down to about 40 mph to clear out the front lanes and then speed off, said Kunukau.

Pat Smith said reckless driving at high speeds is prevalent along Kamehameha Highway from Ka'a'awa to Kane'ohe because of what he calls a "video-game mentality." He hopes a tougher police stance will make a difference.

"They don't see it as reality," Smith said, "but the reality is real people can suffer and die."

Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.