LIHU‘E — In an effort to reduce Kaua‘i’s abandoned-vehicle nuisance, a County of Kaua‘i taskforce introduced an educational video and presentation Wednesday at the County Council meeting.
“We are hoping that the problem does not stem from people’s disregard for their environment, but rather that it is a problem of education,” said county Finance Department Director Reiko Matsuyama.
“If people learn the process of disposing of a vehicle, they will go through the channels to properly dispose of their vehicles.”
Councilmember Mason Chock said because there are many agencies and companies that play a role in the process of disposing of vehicles, it is important for the taskforce to take a comprehensive approach to the issue and address the many contributing aspects that cause dumping.
According to Chock, in addition to re-examining internal county processes, the taskforce has put forth recommendations that span changes to the policy, increasing community education and communication, as well as the expansion of outreach services.
“These include short-term and long-term action items that look to alleviate the problem which the taskforce is currently working on,” Chock said. “There are many agencies that expend funds to this effort. The KPD (Kaua‘i Police Department) alone is expending up to half a million (dollars) annually.”
The mission of the taskforce is to more effectively remove abandoned and derelict vehicles from county properties and assist landowners to dispose of their trash, Chock said.
TGI reported in a May 20 article, “In the fiscal year 2019, the Kaua‘i Police Department had 653 vehicles towed, and currently has more than 270 pending complaints. Kaua‘i taxpayers paid more than $411,000 for the handling and disposal of these abandoned and derelict vehicles in 2017, and around $423,000 in 2018. This year, the county has already spent some $491,000.”
According to KPD, from Jan. 1 through Aug. 3, KPD received reports of 427 vehicles, or 61 abandon vehicles per month. A total of 490 vehicles were towed.
Abandon vehicles can cost the county a few hundred dollars up to $2,000 to remove.
Issues with disposal
The taskforce’s presentation identified the following challenges:
• Buyer/seller transfer of ownership issues, whereby the county Department of Finance dDriver Licensing Division or KPD are unable to verify the owner of the vehicle by the transfer of ownership form, or transfers may go unreported;
• Ease of abandoning vehicles versus taking them to Puhi Metals Recycling for proper disposal. Non-registered owners face an even-more-difficult process to dispose of a vehicle;
• Residents being unaware of how to properly dispose of a vehicle;
• Space constraints at Puhi Metals Recycling and differentiating within state law and contracts in the definitions of “abandoned” and “derelict;”
• Tow companies are part of the problem. They are double-dipping, not in compliance with state regulations, with no ability to regulate them;
• Tows may be in very difficult locations and outside the scope of the contracts. KPD then has to get three separate quotes in order to remove the vehicle.
Three vehicles for free
On Wednesday, the county posted an educational video on its Facebook page which said residents are allowed to dispose up to three vehicles at no charge if done by Dec. 21.
“If you are the registered owner and wish to dispose of your vehicle, you must bring the following items to the DMV: Statements of fact relating to junking of vehicles, certificate of title, certificate of registration and the vehicle license plate,” said Mayor Derek Kawakami in the online video.
“If you are not the registered owner of the vehicle, you must complete the indemnity agreement and attached two required photos of the vehicle to the agreement, and then take the vehicle directly to Puhi Metals.”
The motor vehicle registration office does not collect back taxes on vehicles to be junked. If owners arrive at the office with the proper documentation to junk a vehicle, officials will not collect any taxes owed on that vehicle, Matsuyama added.
Chock said citizens can do their part by properly registering their transfers upon sale, reporting any illegal dumping and perpetrators to KPD, sharing options and information for junking cars that are highlighted in the video presentation, and requesting that the state Legislature address the package of bills that will help manage the issue further.
Matsuyama said the abandoned/derelict vehicle issue is a very complicated one, as many regulations are bound by state laws.
“These laws bind us by not preventing fraudulent vehicle transfers and not enforcing collection of towing charges,” Matsuyama said. “We know that most people want to do the right thing and we need to create an easy pathway within the law for them to do just that.”
The taskforce participants include Chock, Matsuyama, KPD Assistant Chief Mark Begley, Keola Aki and Allison Fraley of the county Department of Public Works Division of Solid Waste, Deputy County Attorney Jenna Tatsey, KPD Public Information Officer Coco Zickos, and Ryan Evans and Noelani Lopez of Puhi Metals Reclycling.
Disposal information is located on the county’s website at kauai.gov/vehicledisposal.
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Stephanie Shinno, features, education, business, and community reporter can be reached at 245-0424 or sshinno@thegardenisland.com.
