Q. I noticed that the traffic signals at 11th and Wai'alae avenues provide a left-turn arrow for drivers going kokohead on Wai'alae who are making a left turn mauka onto Sierra Drive. Why not a left-turn arrow going the other way? 'Ewa-bound traffic backs up behind people trying to turn left to go makai toward the freeway.

A. The city's Department of Transportation Services will take a look at that intersection and consider your suggestion, according to Paul Won, chief of the traffic engineering division. "We'd have to check it out. We have to look at how long the backup is," he said.

Won said he doesn't recall this area being evaluated recently. But he said the city has to study the effect in all directions before making a change. "If it is not that bad, we may not do anything because in the opposite direction we could make it even worse," he said.

Q. I saw your answer that Honolulu police said putting any cover over a license plate is illegal — even a clear one. So, why are those covers sold?

A. David Mau, Honolulu assistant licensing administrator, said his office gets a lot of questions about sales of automotive parts that aren't street-legal. But he said the city can't prevent businesses from selling such items, which can be used in other states. "It's a basic constitutional right to be in business and sell things," he said.

Q. I live in Waikele and want to know why the city rubbish truck driver on my route can get out of the truck and spend time looking through my rubbish bin and some other bins, apparently to take out cans and bottles to recycle. I think it's a waste of taxpayers' time and money to have a driver spend part of his day trying to gather recyclables.

A. City refuse collection administrator David Shiraishi said the city does not have a policy against the refuse workers taking items out of the 96-gallon carts because it does not appear to be costing the city additional money. "I don't believe his action is causing the city overtime," he said.

Shiraishi said that city practice appears to date to when the three-person manual crews would dump trash into the hopper of the truck and then pull out chairs and other materials.

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Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.