STAND. COM. REP. NO.  466

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 156

      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 Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 156 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE USE OF MOBILE PHONES WHILE DRIVING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to increase motor vehicle safety by:

 

(1)  Prohibiting the use of a hand-held cellular phone while operating a motor vehicle upon a public highway;

 

(2)  Prohibiting the use of a hand-held cellular phone, including those equipped with a hands-free device, while operating a moving school bus; and

 

(3)  Imposing fines for using a hand-held cellular phone while operating a motor vehicle.

 

     This bill also provides exemptions if the person using the hand-held cellular phone is using the phone for emergency purposes or is using a hands-free device.

 

     The Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu, Oahu Transit Services, Inc., Verizon Wireless, and Cingular Wireless testified in support of this bill.  Sprint Nextel opposed this measure.


     The use of a hand-held cellular device while operating a motor vehicle can be a distraction leading to a motor vehicle collision.  Collisions due to the use of a hand-held cellular device could be avoided and personal injury and property damage eliminated if regulations existed to restrict the use of a hand-held cellular device while operating a motor vehicle.  Although debate continues as to whether cell phone use contributes to accidents, your Committee feels that this bill warrants further discussion.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Prohibiting the use of a hand-held cellular phone, including those equipped with a hands-free device, while operating a transit vehicle; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, conformity, and style.

 

     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. 156, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 156, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair