|
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Kokua Line column
Jul 02, 2012 (The Honolulu Star-Advertiser - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Question: Regarding your column about driver's license exams given only in English (is.gd/pkWG4m). Weren't they given in foreign languages previously? I'm quite sure they were giving written exams in Ilocano, Korean, Chinese and other languages at the main station at City Square on Dillingham.
Answer: Your memory is good.
Honolulu offered the written examination in six foreign languages about four years ago, according to Dennis Kamimura, administrator of the city Motor Vehicle & Licensing Division.
Then the state Legislature required the inclusion of two questions on the exam: one addressing the legal right-of-way of blind and handicapped pedestrians, and the second the illegality of leaving a child unattended in a vehicle.
Because of that, the foreign language exams were removed entirely, pending a determination by the state Department of Transportation to continue offering the foreign language tests, then translating the questions into the approved foreign languages, Kamimura said.
The DOT plans to offer the foreign language exams again, but says it is still working to determine which languages are most needed.
"A survey will be conducted and once the results are tabulated, the test, including the additional questions, will be translated into those languages and will be available for written driver's license examinations," said DOT spokeswoman Caroline Sluyter. "The DOT apologizes for the delay."
The survey is scheduled to take place in about three weeks at driver's licensing stations and continue for six months.
Although the public calls it the "written test" or "written permit test," Kamimura said the official term for the exam is "knowledge test."
If you are getting a Hawaii license for the first time, are a previously out-of-state applicant, an applicant whose driver's license has been revoked or an applicant whose driver's license has expired for more than one year, then you are required to pass the test to obtain a learner's permit, Kamimura said.
After that, you have to pass a road test, officially known as the "practical test."
Question: Years ago, I placed my name on the Do Not Call list for my land line and everything was fine until a few weeks ago, when I started receiving a lot of calls from telemarketers on the mainland. How often do we have to update our names on the list and what is the number to call?
Answer: Initially, people who placed their phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry were told the registrations were good for five years.
However, four years after the registry was established, the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007 did away with the requirement to re-register.
Telephone numbers remain on the registry permanently, unless the numbers have been disconnected and reassigned, or when the registrant chooses to remove a number.
The Federal Trade Commission has issued a warning that scams claiming to be connected to the registry have been inviting people to sign up. You are advised to "not respond to these calls."
If you want to add a number to the registry, call 888-382-1222 from the phone you wish to register, or register online at www.donotcall.gov.
The caveat: Not all telemarketing calls will stop. Calls from political organizations, charities and telephone surveyors are permitted, as are calls from companies with which you have an existing relationship.
Mahalo
To all who came to my aid on May 7 at Akoakoa and Papalani streets, when I stepped into a pothole, fell and fractured my wrist and jaw. I wasn't able to get or remember all your names, but I am grateful to all of you for your kindness. Me Ke Aloha Pumehana.
-- J. Winston
Write to "Kokua Line" at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
___ (c)2012 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser at
www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by MCT Information Services
[ Back To SIP Trunking Home's Homepage ]
|
NEW Bring Your Own Device
(BYOD): HTML5 and Google's WebRTC are
transforming our industry: The disaggregation of the telecom industry has long
been talked about, while available solutions remain
vertically integrated in spite of a growing industry of
standards-based individual components...
NEW SSOA - SIP Service Oriented Architecture™:
Cloud and large enterprise communications
and collaboration infrastructure: This eBook introduces eZuce's SIP Service Oriented
Architecture (SSOA). SSOA is a 'carrier-class'
system that offers the demanding global enterprise
a modern built-for-the-cloud and highly
scalable...
NEW Benefits of Broadvox VAR Partner Program: We built our Partner Program to work for you. We understand that different
types of partners have different needs, and we don't play favorites. When
you partner with Broadvox, every member of our team stands behind you
and your customers 100%... 
What's New?
