STAND. COM. REP. NO. 362-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.B. No. 2677

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2677 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOPEDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to increase traffic safety by requiring, among other things, that mopeds:

(1) Receive annual safety inspections;

(2) Display a certificate of safety inspection; and

(3) Be operated with an exhaust system that meets the original manufacturer's specifications.

Shamrock Importers, LLC, testified in support of this bill. The Department of Transportation (DOT) testified in opposition to this measure. The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) submitted comments.

Low cost and fuel efficiency have made mopeds a favored mode of transportation in Hawaii, especially among young drivers and drivers concerned about high cost of fuel. Many of these riders, especially young riders, also enjoy tinkering with their mopeds and adding numerous after-market products to increase the horsepower, speed, and sound of their vehicles. However, at times, modifying these vehicles increases the power of these vehicles beyond the manufacturer's and legal specifications. These modifications cause a dangerous situation for the rider.

Your Committee understands that performing a safety inspection on mopeds for speed and sound may be difficult since engine displacement determination requires special equipment, and decimeters that inspect decibel levels of exhaust systems require exact calculations that are almost impossible to achieve. Your Committee also notes that HPD and DOT have both stated that there are currently no safety inspection stations that are certified to inspect mopeds. However, your Committee believes that this measure warrants further discussion.

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. 2677 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

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

 

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair