Hawaii Free Parking

[lkm808]

On Friday 6/10/11 at about 7:15 pm, I was refused free parking at the Chinatown lot and at about 10 pm the same occurred at the Harbour Court lot. Both attendants said "no free parking." However, that same morning, the Honolulu airport parking lot allowed free parking. Otherwise, it would have cost $45.

With the China town lot you have to insist that they call their supervisor. Both times with me the attendants said no but after they called their supervisor they said yes. I haven't tried the Harbour Court lot. Is that a C&C lot? I've been trying to find a list of all the C&C lots but haven't found one yet. Great news on the airport! You're the first I've heard that actually got it.

I called the City & County Parking Management Office, 768-3891, and they emailed me a map of all the C&C garages and parking rates. Here are the 8 garages:
Ali’i Place (Alakea/Hotel), Chinatown Gateway (Bethel/Hotel-1031 Nuuanu Ave.), Hale Pauahi (Beretania/Maunakea-155 N. Beretania St.), Harbor Court (Bethel/Nimitz-66 Queen St.), Kekaulike Courtyard (1016 Maunakea St.), Kukui Plaza (Nuuanu/Kukui-1255 Nuuanu Ave.), Marin Tower (Smith/Nimitz-60 N. Nimitz Hwy.), Smith-Beretania (33 N. Beretania St.).

I wonder how much time and effort it will take to get the attendants to recognize the EV parking privilege.

[akohekohe]

I called the City & County Parking Management Office, 768-3891, and they emailed me a map of all the C&C garages and parking rates. Here are the 8 garages:
Ali’i Place (Alakea/Hotel), Chinatown Gateway (Bethel/Hotel-1031 Nuuanu Ave.), Hale Pauahi (Beretania/Maunakea-155 N. Beretania St.), Harbor Court (Bethel/Nimitz-66 Queen St.), Kekaulike Courtyard (1016 Maunakea St.), Kukui Plaza (Nuuanu/Kukui-1255 Nuuanu Ave.), Marin Tower (Smith/Nimitz-60 N. Nimitz Hwy.), Smith-Beretania (33 N. Beretania St.).

I wonder how much time and effort it will take to get the attendants to recognize the EV parking privilege.

ikm808 - Thanks for the information on the lots. I will try to call the parking management office myself and ask that they inform the company that manages the lot to notify the attendants to let electric vehicles park for free. Until the word gets out I think we just have to keep telling the attendants to call their supervisor. Eventually the supervisors will get tired of being called or we will have educated all the attendants. In a way I don't blame the attendants since I think they are held accountable for all the tickets issued by the machines. Once they learn they just have to write down our plate number on the ticket then they won't have a problem.

[ellecin]

I sent the following email to the city complaints department regarding the problems EV drivers face when parking at a city municipal lot.

Aloha,

I have parked in several City & County Municipal parking lots, and
have been charged for the parking even though I have a Nissan Leaf
fully-electric vehicle with "EV" license plates on it.

I realize it is only around $2 for some instances, but according to
the Hawaii Revised State Statute in effect (copy attached), it should be
free.....and the parking attendants should know this!

The statute/law/act was enacted back in 1997....around 14 years ago.

I would strongly suggest a reminder be provided to all
managers/supervisors/personnel of the C&C/State parking lots, as well as the
meter readers, to ensure people who own and operate an electric vehicle
(that has an EV license plate) aren't hassled about not paying parking fees
when we should actually be waved thru automatically.

Kindly request a response.


I received a call from Chris Terry, Branch Chief of Property and Parking Management for the City and County this afternoon. I suggested that he let the parking managers know of the State statute allowing EV's free parking so that they can disseminate the information to the parking attendants. He agreed and assured me he would send out a memo in the next couple of days. I also asked for his recommendation as to what to do if the parking attendant refuses to abide by the statute and charge me for parking. Chris said to first ask to speak to a manager and if a manager cannot be reached, to pay the ticket. After paying the ticket, he suggested that I call him at 768-3887, at which time he would give me the address to mail the receipt to for reimbursement. The number seems to be a cell number, so I may even try to call him while I am at the attendant's booth. I agree with akokehoke, the more the supervisors are called, the sooner (hopefully) they will get tired of being called and the faster they will get the word out.

[akohekohe]

The University refused to reimburse a $2.00 parking fee that I paid in zone 2 on upper campus. Today I filed a claim in small claims court to recover the $2.00. It is a $35.00 filing fee but I will recover that if I win. My court date is July 6 at 1:30. I'll keep you posted. I know it seems silly to go to court over $2.00 but once I win the $2.00 claim they will have to waive the fee in the future. I think this may be the strategy we have to use if we are refused free parking. Keep you receipts. If the attendant refuses to reimburse you should ask them to call their supervisor. If that doesn't work pay and keep the receipt. Then asked write and asked to be reimbursed. If you are refused take them to small claims court. Anyway, if I win against UH we will have established a precedent.

Today I served the claim on the UH. It was a bit of a nuisance. I had listed the University's parking office as the defendant but University Council refused to take service on the complaint saying the law only allows the University itself to named as a defendant and not any subdivision. So I filed an amended claim naming just the University and fortunately there was not an additional fee to file the amended claim. I think the University was just giving me a hard time and they would not have prevailed in getting the claim dismissed on such flimsy grounds (small claims court in particular doesn't look kindly on those kinds of arguments) but I wanted to move it along so I amended the claim. The July 6th hearing date is still in effect. So if you want to take the UH to small claims court be sure to name the University of Hawaii as defendant and stop there.

[akohekohe]

I sent the following email to the city complaints department regarding the problems EV drivers face when parking at a city municipal lot.

Aloha,

I have parked in several City & County Municipal parking lots, and
have been charged for the parking even though I have a Nissan Leaf
fully-electric vehicle with "EV" license plates on it.

I realize it is only around $2 for some instances, but according to
the Hawaii Revised State Statute in effect (copy attached), it should be
free.....and the parking attendants should know this!

The statute/law/act was enacted back in 1997....around 14 years ago.

I would strongly suggest a reminder be provided to all
managers/supervisors/personnel of the C&C/State parking lots, as well as the
meter readers, to ensure people who own and operate an electric vehicle
(that has an EV license plate) aren't hassled about not paying parking fees
when we should actually be waved thru automatically.

Kindly request a response.


I received a call from Chris Terry, Branch Chief of Property and Parking Management for the City and County this afternoon. I suggested that he let the parking managers know of the State statute allowing EV's free parking so that they can disseminate the information to the parking attendants. He agreed and assured me he would send out a memo in the next couple of days. I also asked for his recommendation as to what to do if the parking attendant refuses to abide by the statute and charge me for parking. Chris said to first ask to speak to a manager and if a manager cannot be reached, to pay the ticket. After paying the ticket, he suggested that I call him at 768-3887, at which time he would give me the address to mail the receipt to for reimbursement. The number seems to be a cell number, so I may even try to call him while I am at the attendant's booth. I agree with akokehoke, the more the supervisors are called, the sooner (hopefully) they will get tired of being called and the faster they will get the word out.

Great! Thanks ellecin for your efforts ...

[akohekohe]

The battle of Blaisdell Center has been won! See http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/koku ... _lots.html

[akohekohe]

Well, we can count upper campus at UH Manoa off the list of places we can park since I lost my case in small claims court. The judge seemed most bothered by the fact that Act 290 1997 was never actually codified into the HRS. This has no bearing whatsoever on its legality but that seemed to have an effect. Small claims court decisions don't set precedents but I won't try this route again but if someone else wants to you can. If you get a different judge you may very well prevail.

[koolaukid]

Just returned from a long trip to Molokai. Can't tell you how nice it is to be able to park for free in airport parking. Upon our return we walked to our car and went home. No drama, no waiting curbside, no cost.

[808pv]

Just returned from a long trip to Molokai. Can't tell you how nice it is to be able to park for free in airport parking. Upon our return we walked to our car and went home. No drama, no waiting curbside, no cost.

Any hassles with the attendant? (E.g., citing the law, calling supervisors etc.)

[koolaukid]

No hassles. She asked me to write my name and phone number on the ticket, "in case her supervisor wanted to call". But that was it.