STAND. COM. REP. NO. 283

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 31
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation and Intergovernmental
Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 31 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION
     LEVELS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to lower the legal
concentration level for driving under the influence of
intoxicating liquor from 0.08% to 0.04%.

     Testimony in favor of this measure was received from the
Police Department for the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii
Medical Association, and two individuals.  Testimony in
opposition of this measure was received from the Hawaii
Restaurant Association, Legislative Information Services of
Hawaii, The Libertarian Party of Hawaii, and The Old Spaghetti
Factory.

     Your Committee finds that nationally nearly 17,000 people
die each year in alcohol related crashes, while 300,000 are
injured.  The American Medical Association released a study in
1997 which found that there is evidence that "substantial and
consistent impairment" begins at 0.04% to 0.05% blood alcohol
content.  As the blood alcohol content increases, so too does the
number of tasks and functions that are impaired and the risk of
fatal car crashes. 


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 283
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     While your Committee believes that a comprehensive study may
be needed to conclusively determine the appropriate alcohol
level, your Committee, in passing this measure, aims to send a
strong message to potential offenders not to drink and drive.

     Your Committee amended this measure by making technical,
nonsubstantive changes for clarity and to reflect current
statutory language.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Transportation and Intergovernmental Affairs that is
attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the
intent and purpose of S.B. No. 31, as amended herein, and
recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached
hereto as S.B. No. 31, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Transportation
                                   and Intergovernmental Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair

 
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