Posted on: Saturday, February 19, 2005
HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Red-light camera measure shelved
Advertiser Staff
A bill that would have required the Department of Transportation to set up fixed traffic cameras to catch drivers who run red lights was shelved by the Senate Transportation Committee this week.
While a separate "red light enforcement camera" bill is moving through the House, the action on the Senate side is a strong indicator that there will not be enough support for the return of traffic-enforcement cameras this legislative session.
The Senate bill called for the DOT to hire a private vendor to help set up a photo red-light imaging system on O'ahu only. The House version gives each of the state's four counties the option of setting up red-light cameras and allows them to keep the revenues generated by the violations.
Some opponents of the measure compared the red-light cameras to the controversial "van cams" that led to a firestorm of controversy and ultimate repeal of the law that launched them in 2002. Supporters, however, argued that the red-light cameras are different because they would be stationary at sites known to motorists.
A 23-year-old man was arrested yesterday afternoon after police said he stole a vehicle in Waialua and rammed a police car as he attempted to flee.
The officer suffered minor injuries, was treated at an area hospital and released.
Police said a woman reported an auto theft in progress in Waialua shortly after 4:30 p.m. and she followed the stolen vehicle while talking to a police dispatcher. Police eventually caught up with the car in Waialua, but when they attempted to stop the car, the driver drove into a police car and fled.
Police later found the vehicle abandoned in Waialua. At about 6:30 p.m., police found the suspect in a Waialua neighborhood and arrested him. The man faces charges of first-degree criminal property damage and auto theft.
HILO, Hawai'i — A 25-year-old Hilo man died yesterday after his car overturned on Maku'u Drive in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision of Puna.
Police identified the driver as Michael L. Evangelista.
The accident happened at 2 a.m. when Evangelista's northbound 2004 Acura sedan ran off the left side of the road between 25th and 26th avenues. Police said he was thrown from the car.
Evangelista died three hours later at Hilo Medical Center. Police said the car was speeding.
Because the crash occurred on a private subdivision road, it was not counted as a traffic fatality.
A fire Thursday night destroyed a home in the Leilani Estates subdivision in the Pahoa district on the Big Island.
The fire, at 13-3508 Pomaikai St., was reported at 11:52 p.m., Hawai'i County fire officials said.
Firefighters arrived at the scene at 12:04 a.m. yesterday to find the fire had engulfed the two-story, wood-frame house, which collapsed minutes later.
A resident of a dwelling on the back of the property told firefighters he was awakened by a barking dog and noticed flames coming from the front residence.
He said he woke up an occupant in the house that was on fire who was then able to drive a truck out of the garage before the house collapsed.
There were no injuries in the blaze and damage was estimated at $122,400. The cause of the fire has not been determined.
State and county officials yesterday tested the MAILE AMBER Alert child abduction system and declared it a success.
There were several glitches, however, as one of six highway message signs did not display a message until several minutes after the test began. Also, the advisory message that was carried by many radio stations was barely audible.
The MAILE AMBER Alert is a voluntary partnership among the four county police departments, state Civil Defense, Department of Transportation and the attorney general's Missing Child Center-Hawai'i.
When an alert is issued, participating television and radio stations will interrupt their programming to broadcast information about the missing child as well as the suspect.
Six highway signs also will flash "Child Abduction Alert/Tune Radio for Info."
Police say man rammed their car
Man dies after car overturns
Big Island fire destroys home
MAILE Alert declared success
