When Enforcers DON'T Enforce
It is unfortunate that at times you will find that you have reported a suspected violation where you believe it is very clear that a violation has occurred. For example, you hear the THUMP, THUMP, THUMP of a "Boom Car" stereo and it's several blocks away. You report the offense, at a safe distance you await HPD to respond, only to watch a police car drive past the offending vehicle without stopping to issue a citation.
There may be reasons for this. People have reported responses from HPD ranging from:
-- We were unable to respond to that complaint because there were higher priority complaints that our limited resources had to respond to instead;
-- We responded but the officer used his discretion and decided not to issue the citation;
-- Noise isn't a visible community issue. We respond first to the issues that the community believes to be important;
-- We do not have the equipment to measure noise to determine if the vehicle is in violation (Note: This was the response despite the fact that the motorcycle muffler could be heard several blocks away; or it was a "Boom Car" where the law doesn't require measurement, only that it can be heard at a distance of over 30 feet; or the motorcycle didn't have a muffler and in accordance with the Motor Vehicle Inspection Guide for Motorcycles should have been cited for not having required equipment installed).
It is unfortunate that at times you will find that you have reported a suspected violation where you believe it is very clear that a violation has occurred. For example, you hear the THUMP, THUMP, THUMP of a "Boom Car" stereo and it's several blocks away. You report the offense, at a safe distance you await HPD to respond, only to watch a police car drive past the offending vehicle without stopping to issue a citation.
There may be reasons for this. People have reported responses from HPD ranging from:
-- We were unable to respond to that complaint because there were higher priority complaints that our limited resources had to respond to instead;
-- We responded but the officer used his discretion and decided not to issue the citation;
-- Noise isn't a visible community issue. We respond first to the issues that the community believes to be important;
-- We do not have the equipment to measure noise to determine if the vehicle is in violation (Note: This was the response despite the fact that the motorcycle muffler could be heard several blocks away; or it was a "Boom Car" where the law doesn't require measurement, only that it can be heard at a distance of over 30 feet; or the motorcycle didn't have a muffler and in accordance with the Motor Vehicle Inspection Guide for Motorcycles should have been cited for not having required equipment installed).
Commend the Enforcers WHO DO Enforce Noise Regulations
Ideally all reports of suspected noise violations will be responded to and, where violations are suspected by the investigating officer, the appropriate citations will be issued. When this happens, the community should take the time to commend our HPD Officers for their support to the community. Please see the link below for procedures for commending HPD Officers for a job well-done. http://www.honolulupd.org/contact/index.php?page=contact (Click on link to open separate page to this web site)
Ideally all reports of suspected noise violations will be responded to and, where violations are suspected by the investigating officer, the appropriate citations will be issued. When this happens, the community should take the time to commend our HPD Officers for their support to the community. Please see the link below for procedures for commending HPD Officers for a job well-done. http://www.honolulupd.org/contact/index.php?page=contact (Click on link to open separate page to this web site)
Report The Enforcers Who Fail or Refuse To Enforce Noise Laws
While we should all be respectful of our Police Department and our Police Officers, the community has a right to enforcement of the ordnances and statutes in place to protect the community from noise violations. Should that enforcement not be provided, then each of us has a responsibility to report the enforcers for failure to enforce:
-- Use the HPD Contact Form found at http://www.honolulupd.org/contact/index.php?page=contact (Click on link to open separate page to this web site) to voice your concern about failure to enforce noise ordnances and statutes.
-- Notify Your HPD District Representative. HPD will usually have a representative from the district station at each Neighborhood Board meeting. Respectfully inquire about situations where you believe HPD did not respond to your complaint of noise violations.
-- Notify Your Councilmember. Your City Council contact information can be found at http://www.honolulu.gov/council.html (Click on link to open separate page to this web site). At this page hover over your neighborhood and your councilperson contact info will be displayed, including an option to email that councilperson.
-- Notify The Media. Phone or Email with a description of why you believe a complaint was not responded to correctly by HPD.
While we should all be respectful of our Police Department and our Police Officers, the community has a right to enforcement of the ordnances and statutes in place to protect the community from noise violations. Should that enforcement not be provided, then each of us has a responsibility to report the enforcers for failure to enforce:
-- Use the HPD Contact Form found at http://www.honolulupd.org/contact/index.php?page=contact (Click on link to open separate page to this web site) to voice your concern about failure to enforce noise ordnances and statutes.
-- Notify Your HPD District Representative. HPD will usually have a representative from the district station at each Neighborhood Board meeting. Respectfully inquire about situations where you believe HPD did not respond to your complaint of noise violations.
-- Notify Your Councilmember. Your City Council contact information can be found at http://www.honolulu.gov/council.html (Click on link to open separate page to this web site). At this page hover over your neighborhood and your councilperson contact info will be displayed, including an option to email that councilperson.
-- Notify The Media. Phone or Email with a description of why you believe a complaint was not responded to correctly by HPD.
