STAND. COM. REP. NO. 134-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2880
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B.
No. 2880 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REVERSE WARNING
     SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to reduce noise pollution,
caused by reversing large vehicles, in residential communities
from 12:00 midnight to 5:30 in the morning.

     Your Committee finds that certain large vehicles are
required to use audible warning signals at all times when
reversing.  Your Committee further finds that there has been a
noticeable increase in noise pollution in metropolitan areas, and
that among the major contributors are the beeping sounds from
reversing large vehicles.  Your Committee further finds that
audible signals are less necessary after midnight, since
pedestrian and vehicle traffic has decreased.

     This bill proposes that audible warning signals may be
turned off manually from midnight to 5:30 a.m.; provided that
bright flashing lights in the rear of large vehicles are
activated as they reverse.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 134-00
                                 Page 2

 
     Testimonies in support of this measure were received from
the Waikiki Residents Association, the Waikiki Neighborhood
Board, and from two other residents of Waikiki whose sleep is
being disturbed by the loud beeping sounds.  The Legislative
Information Services of Hawaii agreed with the concerns expressed
by residents, but was concerned about liability, if flashing
lights, rather than audible signals, were employed.  The Hawaii
Transportation Association testified against the proposed bill,
one argument being that flashing lights are not widely recognized
for a vehicle in reverse gear.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by deleting "no longer
than __________ seconds" on page 3, line 20.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
2880, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second
Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2880, H.D. 1, and
be referred to the Committee on Energy and Environmental
Protection.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Transportation,



                                   ______________________________
                                   KENNETH T. HIRAKI, Chair