STAND. COM. REP. NO. 31

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 321

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 321 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OPERATING A VEHICLE WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF AN INTOXICANT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Increase the penalty for the offense of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant to a class C felony if the defendant operated a vehicle with a passenger who was fifteen years of age or younger; and

 

     (2)  Establish a minimum breath and blood alcohol levels for defendants who are between eighteen and twenty-one years of age and convicted of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant with a passenger who was fifteen years of age or younger.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; County of Kauai, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney; Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, County of Hawaii; and Hawaii Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Honolulu Police Department.

 

     Your Committee finds that driving under the influence of alcohol with young passengers in the vehicle is a serious offense.  Traffic fatalities involving impaired drivers who have young individuals as passengers always results in serious consequences to the individuals and their families.  This measure will make drivers more aware of the severe consequences and serve as a deterrent to opting to drive under the influence of alcohol.

 

     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 S.B. No. 321 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair