Kokua Line: How can I check traffic tickets online?
Question : Regarding traffic-ticket scams, it's understandable why some people fall for it because so much government stuff (official ) is done on the phone now (after clicking a text link ). Not everybody knows when someone driving their car gets a ticket—a lot of us share a car.
Answer : We've heard plenty of feedback from readers who share their cars with family members and didn't know right away about infractions that occurred when they weren't driving. Several said the proliferation of Division of Motor Vehicles impersonation scams highlights how important it is for everyone who shares a car, including new teenage drivers, to be forthright about real tickets they get and about any texts, emails or phone calls they receive about purported violations—the latter group may be scam attempts. Concealing such threats from the car's owner (generally a parent ) may worsen the situation.
As scammers try to trick people into paying nonexistent fines, Hawaii's State Judiciary reminds motorists to use the eCourt Kokua system to check whether they actually have tickets pending.
'Anyone unsure whether they have an unpaid traffic citation should search by first and last name and also by license plate number in eCourt Kokua, the Judiciary's public online case look-up system. People who have been issued citations can check the status of those citations by using the 'case search' function in eCourt Kokua, ' the Judiciary said in a news release Thursday.
Access eCourt Kokua via.
The Judiciary says people statewide are receiving text messages falsely claiming to be from the DMV and demanding payment for unpaid traffic citations, and we've heard from readers who received emails as well.
'Please know, you will not get texts, calls, or emails about unpaid traffic citations from the state courts or DMV unless you contacted them first either in person, in writing or via phone with a specific question. Generally, all communication from the Judiciary regarding unpaid citations is handled through the U.S. mail, ' the news release said.
The city says that anyone who receives such texts should block the sender and delete the text without responding.
Q : It's pitch black in the Wilson Tunnel. No lights. Dangerous. What's being done about this ?
A : Power to the Wilson Tunnel was turned off Wednesday and is expected to remain out for about two weeks while Hawaiian Electric Co. repairs two damaged overhead transmission circuits in the Koolau mountains, according to the state Department of Transportation.
Hawaiian Electric has to de-energize the circuits during the repairs, the DOT said in a news release. The tunnel through the Koolaus, connecting Honolulu and Kaneohe on the Likelike Highway, will remain dark for the duration of the repair work, it said. 'HDOT advises motorists to turn on their lights and proceed with caution when approaching and driving through Wilson Tunnel.'
Q : Regarding the COFA funeral fund, what if the deceased was a COFA citizen but their spouse (survivor ) is not ?
A : The citizenship requirement applies to the person who died of COVID-19, not to the person seeking reimbursement for funeral expenses, according to We Are Oceania, the 501 (3 )c administering the city program. The nonprofit says on its website that the deceased must be a citizen of a Compacts of Free Association (COFA ) nation, namely the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands or the Republic of Palau, residing in the City and County of Hono lulu, whose death was attributed to COVID-19 or complications from COVID-19. The applicant must be an immediate surviving family member of the deceased, including spouse, parent, child and sibling.
Mahalo Recently I experienced a flat tire while I was shopping at a local Walmart. A young man who was parked nearby revealed he was a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and was kind enough to take the time to replace my flat with a spare until I could get to a local tire store. I feel ashamed that I cannot remember his name and am so very late with my sincere mahalo to this wonderful individual, who took the time to assist this elderly kupuna. Your parents must be so proud of you.—Susanne C.------------Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813 ; call 808-529-4773 ; or email.------------
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Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kokua Line: How can I check traffic tickets online?
Question : Regarding traffic-ticket scams, it's understandable why some people fall for it because so much government stuff (official ) is done on the phone now (after clicking a text link ). Not everybody knows when someone driving their car gets a ticket—a lot of us share a car. Answer : We've heard plenty of feedback from readers who share their cars with family members and didn't know right away about infractions that occurred when they weren't driving. Several said the proliferation of Division of Motor Vehicles impersonation scams highlights how important it is for everyone who shares a car, including new teenage drivers, to be forthright about real tickets they get and about any texts, emails or phone calls they receive about purported violations—the latter group may be scam attempts. Concealing such threats from the car's owner (generally a parent ) may worsen the situation. As scammers try to trick people into paying nonexistent fines, Hawaii's State Judiciary reminds motorists to use the eCourt Kokua system to check whether they actually have tickets pending. 'Anyone unsure whether they have an unpaid traffic citation should search by first and last name and also by license plate number in eCourt Kokua, the Judiciary's public online case look-up system. People who have been issued citations can check the status of those citations by using the 'case search' function in eCourt Kokua, ' the Judiciary said in a news release Thursday. Access eCourt Kokua via. The Judiciary says people statewide are receiving text messages falsely claiming to be from the DMV and demanding payment for unpaid traffic citations, and we've heard from readers who received emails as well. 'Please know, you will not get texts, calls, or emails about unpaid traffic citations from the state courts or DMV unless you contacted them first either in person, in writing or via phone with a specific question. Generally, all communication from the Judiciary regarding unpaid citations is handled through the U.S. mail, ' the news release said. The city says that anyone who receives such texts should block the sender and delete the text without responding. Q : It's pitch black in the Wilson Tunnel. No lights. Dangerous. What's being done about this ? A : Power to the Wilson Tunnel was turned off Wednesday and is expected to remain out for about two weeks while Hawaiian Electric Co. repairs two damaged overhead transmission circuits in the Koolau mountains, according to the state Department of Transportation. Hawaiian Electric has to de-energize the circuits during the repairs, the DOT said in a news release. The tunnel through the Koolaus, connecting Honolulu and Kaneohe on the Likelike Highway, will remain dark for the duration of the repair work, it said. 'HDOT advises motorists to turn on their lights and proceed with caution when approaching and driving through Wilson Tunnel.' Q : Regarding the COFA funeral fund, what if the deceased was a COFA citizen but their spouse (survivor ) is not ? A : The citizenship requirement applies to the person who died of COVID-19, not to the person seeking reimbursement for funeral expenses, according to We Are Oceania, the 501 (3 )c administering the city program. The nonprofit says on its website that the deceased must be a citizen of a Compacts of Free Association (COFA ) nation, namely the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands or the Republic of Palau, residing in the City and County of Hono lulu, whose death was attributed to COVID-19 or complications from COVID-19. The applicant must be an immediate surviving family member of the deceased, including spouse, parent, child and sibling. Mahalo Recently I experienced a flat tire while I was shopping at a local Walmart. A young man who was parked nearby revealed he was a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and was kind enough to take the time to replace my flat with a spare until I could get to a local tire store. I feel ashamed that I cannot remember his name and am so very late with my sincere mahalo to this wonderful individual, who took the time to assist this elderly kupuna. Your parents must be so proud of you.—Susanne C.------------Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813 ; call 808-529-4773 ; or email.------------
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kokua Line: How can I check traffic tickets online?
Question : Regarding traffic-ticket scams, it's understandable why some people fall for it because so much government stuff (official ) is done on the phone now (after clicking a text link ). Not everybody knows when someone driving their car gets a ticket—a lot of us share a car. Answer : We've heard plenty of feedback from readers who share their cars with family members and didn't know right away about infractions that occurred when they weren't driving. Several said the proliferation of Division of Motor Vehicles impersonation scams highlights how important it is for everyone who shares a car, including new teenage drivers, to be forthright about real tickets they get and about any texts, emails or phone calls they receive about purported violations—the latter group may be scam attempts. Concealing such threats from the car's owner (generally a parent ) may worsen the situation. As scammers try to trick people into paying nonexistent fines, Hawaii's State Judiciary reminds motorists to use the eCourt Kokua system to check whether they actually have tickets pending. 'Anyone unsure whether they have an unpaid traffic citation should search by first and last name and also by license plate number in eCourt Kokua, the Judiciary's public online case look-up system. People who have been issued citations can check the status of those citations by using the 'case search' function in eCourt Kokua, ' the Judiciary said in a news release Thursday. Access eCourt Kokua via. The Judiciary says people statewide are receiving text messages falsely claiming to be from the DMV and demanding payment for unpaid traffic citations, and we've heard from readers who received emails as well. 'Please know, you will not get texts, calls, or emails about unpaid traffic citations from the state courts or DMV unless you contacted them first either in person, in writing or via phone with a specific question. Generally, all communication from the Judiciary regarding unpaid citations is handled through the U.S. mail, ' the news release said. The city says that anyone who receives such texts should block the sender and delete the text without responding. Q : It's pitch black in the Wilson Tunnel. No lights. Dangerous. What's being done about this ? A : Power to the Wilson Tunnel was turned off Wednesday and is expected to remain out for about two weeks while Hawaiian Electric Co. repairs two damaged overhead transmission circuits in the Koolau mountains, according to the state Department of Transportation. Hawaiian Electric has to de-energize the circuits during the repairs, the DOT said in a news release. The tunnel through the Koolaus, connecting Honolulu and Kaneohe on the Likelike Highway, will remain dark for the duration of the repair work, it said. 'HDOT advises motorists to turn on their lights and proceed with caution when approaching and driving through Wilson Tunnel.' Q : Regarding the COFA funeral fund, what if the deceased was a COFA citizen but their spouse (survivor ) is not ? A : The citizenship requirement applies to the person who died of COVID-19, not to the person seeking reimbursement for funeral expenses, according to We Are Oceania, the 501 (3 )c administering the city program. The nonprofit says on its website that the deceased must be a citizen of a Compacts of Free Association (COFA ) nation, namely the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands or the Republic of Palau, residing in the City and County of Hono lulu, whose death was attributed to COVID-19 or complications from COVID-19. The applicant must be an immediate surviving family member of the deceased, including spouse, parent, child and sibling. Mahalo Recently I experienced a flat tire while I was shopping at a local Walmart. A young man who was parked nearby revealed he was a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and was kind enough to take the time to replace my flat with a spare until I could get to a local tire store. I feel ashamed that I cannot remember his name and am so very late with my sincere mahalo to this wonderful individual, who took the time to assist this elderly kupuna. Your parents must be so proud of you.—Susanne C.------------Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813 ; call 808-529-4773 ; or email.------------
Fox News
a day ago
- Fox News
Massive DMV phishing scam tricks drivers with fake texts
If you've received a text message claiming to be from your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and threatening you with fines or penalties unless you pay up, you're not alone. A new wave of scam texts is sweeping across the country, targeting drivers in states like Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, New York, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Colorado, Vermont, Texas, North Carolina and even Washington, D.C. These messages look official and urgent, warning you about supposed unpaid tickets or tolls and demanding immediate payment. But don't be fooled, as these texts are sophisticated scams designed to steal your personal information or money. The scammers are getting better at making their messages look real, so it can be tricky to spot the fraud. But with a few simple tips, you can learn how to recognize these scams and protect yourself before you click or respond. These scam messages vary slightly depending on the state you're in, but they're generally structured in the same way. The text threatens consequences, such as credit score damage, revoked driving privileges, suspended vehicle registration or increased toll fees, if you do not pay the bill you have supposedly incurred. To make the message appear legit, the scammers often include a date for penalties to begin, a fake administrative code and a link that appears to be an official DMV website. Pro tip: If you're instructed to copy the link into your browser rather than clicking it directly, it's a scam. The scam relies on two key elements to be effective: fear and a sense of urgency. These are two powerful psychological motivators that can send you into a panic since your driving privileges are at risk, or you're facing financial consequences. The aim is to get you to act hastily without pausing to verify the source. The messages also mimic legitimate government communications by including familiar terms, official-sounding codes and web addresses that appear authentic. Here is an example of what the text might look like: Reports are surfacing across the U.S., and the list of affected states is likely to continue growing as more residents come forward. If you receive a suspicious text message claiming to be from your state's DMV and demanding payment or personal information, follow these steps to protect yourself: 1. Be skeptical of any message creating urgency or panic: Scammers rely on fear and urgency to trick you into acting without thinking. If a message pressures you to act immediately, that's a major red flag. 2. Check for obvious red flags: Look for signs like strange sender addresses, awkward language, misspellings or links that don't match your state's official DMV website. 3. Do not click any links or reply, and use strong antivirus software: Legitimate DMVs will not ask for payments, personal details or sensitive information via unsolicited text messages. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices. 4. Verify directly with your DMV: If you're concerned the message might be real, contact your state's DMV using the official website or a trusted phone number. Never use the contact information provided in the suspicious text. 5. Consider a Personal Data Removal Service: Your personal information is widely available online, which can make you a bigger target for these types of scams, therefore you might look into a personal data removal service. These services work by submitting opt-out requests to data brokers that collect and sell your information, helping to reduce your digital footprint and making it harder for scammers to find your contact details. While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren't cheap — and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It's what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you. Check out my top picks for data removal services here. 6. Delete the message immediately and block the sender: Removing the text helps prevent accidental clicks and reduces the risk of falling for the scam later. Also, be sure to block phone numbers and texts that send spam or scam messages, reducing future risk. 7. Register your number with the National Do Not Call Registry: While this won't stop all scams, it can help reduce unwanted communications. 8. Don't provide any personal or financial information: Never share your Social Security number, driver's license number, banking information, or passwords in response to an unsolicited text. 9. If you clicked the link or gave out information, act quickly: If you accidentally entered personal or financial information, contact your bank, credit card provider or local law enforcement right away to minimize potential damage. 10. Keep your phone's security features updated: Ensure your device's operating system and security software are current to help block known scam numbers and malicious links. 11. Report the scam: Forward the message to 7726 (SPAM) to alert your mobile provider and help block similar messages in the future. Mark the message as junk or spam within your messaging app, if possible. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at Scam texts pretending to be from the DMV are getting more convincing, but you don't have to be their next victim. Staying skeptical of urgent messages, double-checking anything that seems off and never clicking suspicious links can go a long way in protecting your personal information. Remember, the real DMV will never pressure you for payment or sensitive details over text. By staying alert, you can help prevent these scams and keep your personal information and money secure. Should tech companies and telecom providers be doing more to protect you from scam texts, or does the responsibility ultimately fall on you to keep your digital life safe? Let us know by writing to us at For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Follow Kurt on his social channels: Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions: New from Kurt: Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
