Being a responsible driver isn’t just knowing what to do when behind the wheel. It’s also understanding the dos and don’ts of parking.
And in Hawaii, there are specific parking laws that you need to know about.
That’s why we’re diving into the Hawaii parking laws of 2024. We’ll talk about the implemented laws, as well as the penalties for breaking those laws.
Plus, we’ll also give you helpful safe parking tips.
So shall we?
Parking Laws in Hawaii
There are quite a few parking laws in Hawaii. So to make it easier, we’ll break it down into sections, namely:
- Areas that limit access
- Areas for PWD
- Areas with limited space
- Public roads
Let’s look at these laws in detail.
Areas that limit access
You cannot park in places where there are no standing or parking signals placed. You also cannot leave your vehicle in locations where you may become a hazard to others on the road.
The state prohibits you from parking your vehicles in areas where you may hamper people’s access. These include the following:
- Driveways, regardless of whether public or private. You may be blocking it and preventing people from accessing the driveway.
- Intersections. Your presence may begin to interfere with traffic.
- Fire hydrant. Your vehicle may stop people from using it during emergencies if you park in front or near it.
- Crosswalks. You may cause other drivers to miss the presence of pedestrians crossing.
- Loading zones. You cannot block passengers from getting off or on their vehicles. It also applies to freight loading areas.
Areas for PWD
There are specific parking laws for PWD in Hawaii.
- You can only park in a space identified with the international symbol for accessibility if you have a PWD placard displayed.
- Your vehicle’s license plate must be for transporting a disabled person if you don’t have a placard.
- You cannot park in the access aisle beside a space marked especially for the disabled. That area must remain clear if the disabled person uses mobility assistance devices, such as a ramp or a wheelchair.
Areas with limited space
There are also parking laws in areas with limited space.
- On or near a sidewalk. If you’re going to park near a curb, ensure you’re at least a foot away.
- Areas where, after parking, leaves only three feet of space for traffic to pass.
- Within a tunnel, bridge, or any elevated structure
- Stopping beside a car that’s unmoving at the edge of the road. It doesn’t matter if you stay inside your vehicle or not.
Public Roads
Finally, let’s look at Hawaii’s parking laws on public roads.
- Public streets and highways aren’t appropriate parking areas. You cannot leave your vehicle there unattended for more than 24 continuous hours.
- You cannot wash your vehicle on any public road.
- You cannot park on public roads to display a car for sale
- You cannot repair a vehicle on a public road, except during emergencies.
Parking Penalties in Hawaii
If you don’t follow the parking laws in Hawaii, you could face these penalties:
- Tickets and fines: Parking in areas not designated as official parking spaces earns you tickets. These also come with fines, which can be as expensive as $200. Improper use of a disabled person’s parking slot is more expensive, reaching $300.
- Towing: Some signs indicate that you can only park in the area during specific hours. Beyond those, a tow-away regulation takes effect. Once this happens, you have to reach out to the police if you want to recover your vehicle.
NOTE: A broken parking meter is considered a no-parking zone in Hawaii. Parking in front of one may earn you a ticket worth $50.
Safe Parking Tips
Accidents don’t just happen on the open road — sometimes collisions occur when you’re parking, especially in hills, angle parking, and parallel parking. Also, parking is difficult with distractions, bad lighting, etc.
This is why, in this section, we’re going to give you some safe parking tips in these areas.
Parking on a Hill
As a general rule, parking your car in an area where it’s visible is ideal. So if possible, avoid spaces such as a hill crest.
Here are other parking tips when parking on a hill:
- Ensure you set your hand brake to prevent your car from rolling away.
- If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, put it in PARK. If not, put it in reverse or shift to a low gear.
- Don’t leave your car without turning your front wheels towards the curb. Turn them to the right if there is no curb.
Angle Parking
As the name implies, angle parking means pulling into a parking space from an angle.
Here are some safety tips to remember.
Make sure you keep a safe distance when you find a spot — vehicles in other spaces will have more parts sticking out compared to when you park perpendicularly.
When you’re ready to drive into the parking space, don’t forget to keep to the center. You’ll know you’re in the correct position when you have an equal distance between your vehicle and the lines.
Parallel Parking
Yes, the intimidating parallel parking. Some people avoid this altogether.
But if you must, the following steps allow you to complete it successfully:
- Keep parallel to the car in front of the vacant space — make sure you have at least 18 inches between you and that your rear bumpers are aligned.
- Turn your steering wheel all the way to the right and back into the space slowly. Continue in this direction until you’re at a 45-degree angle with the street.
- Once there, straighten your wheels before continuing to back slowly. Stop when your front bumper is parallel to the car in front’s back bumper.
- Turn your steering wheel all the way to the left and continue backing into the space. Keep an eye on the car behind you to ensure you don’t hit it.
- Turn the wheel to the right and move your car forward. From here on, adjust your vehicle’s position as necessary. Make sure to leave at least two feet between you and the other vehicles.
Other Parking Tips
Safety when parking isn’t limited to getting your vehicle into the space scratch-free. There are also several things outside the maneuvering you should keep in mind:
- Avoid distractions: Finding a space usually comes with relief, which results in letting your guard down. During those moments, it’s tempting to text, receive calls, or program your GPS. Unfortunately, these also take your eyes off the road, making a collision more likely.
- Be mindful of your surroundings: Keep an eye out for other vehicles that may be pulling out of their parking space. There may also be pedestrians heading towards their vehicles or walking between cars. Yes, you want to park as soon as possible, but getting into an accident will eat up more of your time than parking carefully.
- Choose an open space with good lighting: You might not always have options regarding where to park, but if you do, keep this in mind. Light makes it easier for you to spot hazards or obstacles on the road. It also deters thieves from targeting your vehicle, especially if you’re parking at night.
- Don’t try to force your car into a space that’s too cramped.
- Secure your valuables: If you have high-value items in your vehicle, keep them out of sight after parking. Don’t forget to check your windows and doors to ensure everything is closed and locked before leaving your car.
The Wrap Up
And that was the Hawaii parking laws of 2024.
Yes, there is a lot to consider. So to be extra safe, just make sure you park in an area with standing or parking signals.
If you break any of the parking laws in Hawaii, then you will face a ticket, fine, and sometimes even towing.
Also, don’t forget the safe parking tips when parking on a hill, in an angled area, or in parallel parking.
Obeying the Hawaii parking laws is being a responsible driver.