Q. Who is responsible for cleaning up after a vehicle fire or accident? I have noticed on H-1 and H-2 that after the vehicle has been removed, there is a lot of debris and junk left on the scene. Isn't the wrecker company responsible for cleaning up and picking up the scene?

A. Firefighters or police officers may clear debris off the roadway so that traffic may pass, but they're not responsible for hauling it from the shoulder.

For that, the Honolulu Police Department contracts with wrecking companies.

HPD spokesman Capt. Frank Fujii said there are different wrecking companies assigned to each zone, so if you see debris on the road, you should call 911 so police can send the appropriate company to do the cleanup.

Police might clean up smaller messes if they're blocking the roadway. "Believe it or not, the blue and whites (patrol cars) all have dustpans," Fujii said.

Q. My husband and I just moved into a house in a neighborhood that is known for being nice and quiet. Unfortunately, for the past few months we have been constantly disturbed by our neighbor's three barking dogs, which are left out in the front yard to bark at every cockroach that passes all day and night, disrupting our sleep. We've complained to the police and Humane Society, but they have yet to take any real action and our neighbor has become menacing since we made the complaint.

A. If you've already called the Hawaiian Humane Society and the police, you're on the right track.

If the dog continues to bark, you need to follow up your complaints.

If the problem persists after your neighbor receives a warning letter and educational materials from the Humane Society, the next step is getting a field investigator to monitor the dogs.

If the Humane Society's field investigator observes the dogs barking continuously for more than 10 minutes or intermittently for a half-hour, it will become a court case.

The owner could be fined up to $50 for a first violation, up to $100 if another complaint is filed within two years, and between $500 and $1,000 for subsequent complaints within that two-year period.

If you don't want to go to court, the Humane Society also could help mediate.

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