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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, July 7, 2007

BUREAUCRACY BUSTER
Restrooms mandatory for venues with liquor

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Columnist

Q. Aren't all establishments with a liquor license required to provide a restroom? Where is the restroom for Ala Moana Center's Mai Tai bar? When I was there on a Sunday night, the only public restroom close to the bar (next to Tsukiji restaurant) was closed. Are Mai Tai patrons supposed to use the neighboring restaurant's restroom? What happens after those neighboring restaurants close for the night?

A. In Honolulu, all establishments authorized to serve liquor on-premises (restaurants, bars, etc.) must have restrooms within or next to the licensed premises, according to Honolulu Liquor Commission assistant administrator Anna Hirai.

She said when an applicant submits a floor plan in connection with an application for a liquor license, the plan must bear a preliminary approval stamp from the Department of Health showing how this requirement is addressed.

The situation with the Mai Tai bar is that it's actually part of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant, Hirai said.

When Bubba Gump was licensed in 1999, the restrooms within the Bubba Gump area satisfied the restroom requirement for the entire licensed premises.

Q. Did the law just change again about pedestrians in crosswalks? I thought I understood it, then heard something about the governor changing it again last month. Could you check on it?

A. Yes, there's a new law but it says basically what you probably thought: You have to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.

Last month, Gov. Linda Lingle signed into law a bill that clarifies that drivers must stop for pedestrians in crosswalks when pedestrians are on the driver's side of the road or are approaching from the other side of the road and close enough to be in danger.

State lawmakers first passed a new pedestrian safety law in 2005 but decided to strengthen it this year after several pedestrian fatalities.

So now drivers face fines of $150 for a first offense, $300 and a 90-day revocation of their driver's license for a second offense within a year, and $1,000 and a 180-day license revocation for a third offense within two years or any fourth or future violation.

Pedestrians who jaywalk face fines of $100.

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