Q. I live in Makakilo and got a ticket at 9:30 at night for parking in front of my house — in a place where I have parked for decades. The ticket said that I had parked "within 30 feet of a safety zone." There are no signs that describe a safety zone there. I looked up the city ordinance and don't see how I can be found in violation. Can you find out what's going on and what I should do?

A. We checked on your parking citation armed with the information you provided. Police Capt. Mitch Kiyuna said he also reviewed the city ordinance that your ticket referenced. While he was not the officer who cited you, he confirmed that a safety zone must be marked.

He said the zones are set aside only for the use of pedestrians, such as an area through a median where people may walk but vehicles can't drive.

On the basis of that information, Kiyuna said you can write a letter of explanation — as you have — or contest the citation. You appear to have prepared well by measuring where your car was parked, taking photos and documenting the scene.

By writing a letter to the court or contesting the citation, you are asking the court to decide. "He can show his side," Kiyuna said.

Q. Why doesn't the state and/or city put up bins so people can put those HI5 bottles and cans in parks, and at facilities such as the Stan Sheriff Arena, the Waikiki Shell, etc.? They could offer schools or charities the chance to come and collect them, which would keep people from digging through the rubbish cans.

A. Several community and government organizations are working together to increase the recycling of those containers for their nickel deposits. Mayor Mufi Hannemann is working with the state and community organizations to expand collection sites for those deposit containers.

Hannemann spokesman Bill Brennan said the city also is supporting more recycling by working to place more of the large white bins at schools, which are often next to parks, offering a convenient way to recycle.

At the Honolulu Zoo, the Honolulu Zoo Society already has placed containers for the HI5 containers alongside the rubbish containers and is collecting the deposits as part of its fundraising efforts.

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.

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Honolulu, HI 96813

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Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.