Question: A friend who is visiting from the mainland was surprised that the bus driver made such a big deal about her bringing her duffel bag on the bus. She was catching a ride to my place after taking a shuttle from the airport to Waikiki. He let her bring it on but made it seem like he was doing her a big favor. Auwe. How about a little aloha for our visitors?
Answer: If her bag was oversize, your friend was getting a pass.
Baggage is supposed to be allowed on TheBus only if it fits under a passenger’s seat or on their lap, without protruding to another seat or interfering with other passengers, per Revised Ordinances of Honolulu Sec. 13-2.4.
Baggage cannot be stored in the aisle or on the seats, and “any large, bulky, dangerous or offensive article that may cause harm or discomfort to any passenger” will be rejected, according to the law.
Riskiest scams
Being targeted by a con artist is bad enough, but falling for the scam is worse. New research by the Better Business Bureau considers not only the number of scam attempts, but the damage they do. Its Risk Index is based on three measures: exposure (the likelihood of being targeted by a particular scam), susceptibility (once targeted, the likelihood of losing money) and monetary loss (if money is lost, the likely amount).
Among the results: Younger consumers (ages 18 to 24) are most likely to lose money in a scam, although their median losses are lower than those of senior citizens. Older folks are less likely to fall for scams than younger ones, but scams targeting them generate bigger losses. Regardless of age, men are more vulnerable than women in seven of the top 10 scam categories, according to the research, which is based on 32,781 BBB Scam Tracker reports in the U.S. and Canada last year.
Overall, about 19 percent of people targeted by a scam fell for it, with a median loss of $274, the study found.
While the phony tax-debt scam was the No. 1 scam reported to the BBB, it didn’t rank among the riskiest — because most consumers know not to fall for it.
The scams most likely to generate financial losses were, in descending order: home-improvement scams; fake checks and money orders; employment scams; online purchase scams and advance-fee loan scams.
The full report has descriptions of the scams, and steps to avoid being taken. Read it at 808ne.ws/bbbriskreport.
Judicial outreach
State judges are meeting with school and community groups this month to promote public understanding of the U.S. justice system and the rule of law. Call your local courthouse to inquire about having a judge speak to your group. On Oahu (First Circuit), call 539-4999. On Maui, Molokai and Lanai (Second Circuit), call 244-2860. On Hawaii island (Third Circuit), call 322-8726. On Kauai (Fifth Circuit), call 482-2347.
Auwe
To “disgusted driver” (808ne.ws/2mCQaXY), I hope you’re not the person trying to cut in to get “ahead.” If you are, then you have the right to be disgusting. I have seen many a driver who just can’t wait and tries to get ahead of even one car. This is especially true of the Mokapu/Oneawa intersection and many other intersections. Quit being rude and such a jerk. — A.I.
Mahalo
Mahalo to the kind gentleman at Sack N Save who tried to help me with my car alarm on a rainy night. God bless you for helping a senior in distress. — A reader
Mahalo
Mahalo to the two ladies at Hawaiian Telcom Customer Services who assisted this senior citizen. They answered questions and made suggestions without rushing my slower thought processes. Faith and Leilani are a credit to their department and to Hawaiian Telcom. — A reader
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.
