Honda 1997 Civic Sedan Online Reference Owner's Manual page 108

Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Release
This allows you to move the shift
lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal and pressing the release
button does not work.
1. Set the Parking brake.
2. Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
Driving
RELEASE BUTTON
SHIFT LOCK
RELEASE SLOT
3. Insert the key in the Shift Lock
Release slot next to the shift lever.
4. Push down on the key while you
press the release button and move
the shift lever out of Park to
Neutral.
5. Remove the key from the Shift
Lock Release slot. Depress the
brake pedal and restart the engine.
If you need to use the Shift Lock
Release, it means your car is
developing a problem. Have the car
checked by your Honda dealer.