STAND. COM. REP. NO.  563

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1447

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1447 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NOISE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of the bill is to reduce excessive noise produced by motor vehicles and mopeds by:

 

     (1)  Creating noise abatement restrictions in areas used for lodging for vehicles that emit noise exceeding 95 decibels;

 

     (2)  Assessing fines for violations of noise restrictions;

 

     (3)  Allowing for the impoundment of vehicles that violate the noise restrictions; and

 

     (4)  Appropriating funds for a program to store impounded vehicles.

 

     Several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  Hawaii Transportation Association, PH Corporation, Specialty Equipment Market Association, Street Bikers United Hawaii, and many concerned individuals opposed this measure.  The Judiciary offered comments.

 

     Your Committee finds that there is a need to establish some type of accurate noise testing procedure to achieve the objectives of this bill; and has concerns about the adequacy of establishing official designations such as stickers on vehicles to indicate compliance.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective dates to July 1, 2051, and July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1447, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1447, H.D. 1.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

TOMMY WATERS, Chair