2008-03-14 Police Commission Minutes

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Hawaii County Police Commission Regular Session Minutes March 14, 2008 Page 4 Corporation Counsel before the seven days in order for him to make a recommendation to the commission. Currently, there is no time limit. The recent warrant sweep was a joint task force with participation from all counties. A grant was used to pay for some of the costs. They will be conducting these types of operations more often. STATEMENTS ON COMPLAINTS (open to the public) JENNY KRAUS (COMPLAINT HPC 07 -055) stated that she hears about harassment all the time from the kids. Officer Castillo came by and told the kids, "I told you before no skateboarding on the sidewalk." She told the officer it was not illegal to sit or carry a skateboard. They were her kids, and they were outside her shop. She told him she had her rights and asked him to leave her shop. He went outside and told her son that he saw him skateboarding, and that he should have given him a ticket. She talked to Officer Kagimoto at the station, and he told her it was not illegal to carry or sit on a skateboard. Two of her sons and her niece were outside her shop sitting on their skateboard. They were not blocking the way. They were probably riding their skateboard on the sidewalk that day. She has been working with Officer Derr about the skateboarders. They are trying to get them a park and getting them off the street. The first offense is a $25, not $40 as the officer stated. Vice Chair Whittemore stated that his son used to skateboard, and he used to get calls about it. When he was in the private business, they used to post signs that skateboarding was not allowed. The kids need to know what areas allow skateboarding and stay within the law. Corporation Counsel Ashida stated that after reading the officer's report, he was concerned about obstruction of the sidewalk. KRAUS stated that there were three kids, and their knees were crunched up. They were not blocking the sidewalk. KENNETH LONG (HPC 08 -04) stated that he is concerned about the unprofessional behavior of the officer when he presented the citation. He didn't tell him why he was stopped until after he wrote up the citation. He tried to develop a communication, but the officer didn't want to discuss it. When he asked to see the laser, the officer said he did not have time. So, there was no evidence. He wanted to discuss the scenario. He accelerated along with the line of traffic. He had to speed up when he pulled out and got into the line of traffic. The 45 mph speed limits are illegal and are being used for speed traps by officers. The speed limit signs are irrational. They don't follow federal guidelines. The state has not make traffic studies since 1987. He thinks when the officer saw his California driver's license, he thought "slam dunk." His insurance rate will increase. He was going 65 mph when he was pulled over. He was going with the flow of traffic. He believes the speed limit should be 60 mph. Corporation Counsel Ashida stated that they do not have enough members to vote for an executive session. Quorum vote would be six. However, they could still move forward if they felt they had enough information.