REPORT TITLE:
Bicycle Patrol; Capitol


DESCRIPTION:
Appropriates funds to the department of public safety to
establish a bicycle patrol for the capitol district.  (HB475 HD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        475
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO A BICYCLE PATROL FOR THE CAPITOL DISTRICT.
 


BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to establish a
 
 2 bicycle patrol program within the state department of public
 
 3 safety for the downtown capitol district.  While bicycles have
 
 4 been used by officers for a number of years, bike patrols
 
 5 experienced a recent resurgence in 1987, when the Seattle Police
 
 6 Department began using bicycles to patrol congested downtown
 
 7 areas.  The legislature finds that this relatively new trend in
 
 8 law enforcement is especially appropriate to address crime in the
 
 9 congested capitol district in Honolulu.
 
10      In particular, the legislature finds that a bicycle patrol
 
11 program offers a number of benefits to the community, including
 
12 the following:
 
13      (1)  During this time of streamlining government and
 
14           implementing cost-cutting measures, it makes sense to
 
15           have an economical and environmentally safe bike patrol
 
16           program for the capitol district, which is the primary
 
17           patrol for protective services of the department of
 
18           public safety.  The bike patrol is not intended to take
 

 
Page 2                                                     475
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        


 1           the place of patrol cars but to be used as an
 
 2           alternative cost-saving measure to patrol the capitol
 
 3           district;
 
 4      (2)  Bicycle patrols are cost effective.  Several bike
 
 5           officers can be fully outfitted for the cost of one
 
 6           patrol car.  The average expense to fully equip one
 
 7           bicycle is about $1,500, with an annual maintenance fee
 
 8           of about $200.  In contrast, each of the four patrol
 
 9           cars for the capitol district costs the State
 
10           approximately $18,000 to purchase and annual fuel and
 
11           maintenance fees of approximately $2,600.  After five
 
12           years, the cars undergo major repairs;
 
13      (3)  Patrolling the capitol district, which encompasses only
 
14           .38 square miles, can be simply achieved through the
 
15           bike patrol, as bike officers can travel faster than
 
16           foot officers, and are able to patrol areas unreachable
 
17           by car.  A bicycle increases an officer's mobility in
 
18           crowded, congested areas, thereby cutting response time
 
19           in emergencies;
 
20      (4)  Bicycles offer officers a "stealth" advantage.  Because
 
21           they are silent, bicycles allow officers to quickly
 
22           ride up to a crime scene before they are noticed,
 

 
 
 
Page 3                                                     475
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        


 1           thereby curtailing burglaries, thefts from vehicles,
 
 2           and other criminal activities;
 
 3      (5)  Bicycles are a significant public relations tool, since
 
 4           officers on bicycles are more approachable than those
 
 5           in patrol cars.  Bicycle patrols have already greatly
 
 6           increased the visibility of officers in various areas
 
 7           of Oahu, enabling officers to develop closer working
 
 8           relationships with the public and communities; and
 
 9      (6)  Officers on bicycles benefit from decreased health care
 
10           costs and improved morale.
 
11      Specialized bicycle training is also important to teach
 
12 officers to ride fast and safely, while minimizing liability.
 
13 Unlike recreational cyclists who can choose a route that is safe
 
14 and convenient, bike officers must ride where they are needed,
 
15 including in very heavy downtown Honolulu traffic.  Training
 
16 assistance could be requested from the Honolulu Police
 
17 Department, which currently operates a bike patrol unit, to cover
 
18 bicycle handling skills, night operations, emergency maneuvers,
 
19 and other relevant information.
 
20      The legislature further finds that there is a growing need
 
21 to maintain and improve safety for legislators, staff, and
 
22 agencies located in the capitol district, especially during the
 

 
 
 
Page 4                                                     475
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        


 1 legislative session, which can be achieved more cost-effectively
 
 2 through bicycle patrols.  Finally, since the capitol district is
 
 3 one of Honolulu's major visitor areas, increasing the security
 
 4 presence through bicycle patrols will further help to maintain
 
 5 the State's image as a safe and visitor-friendly tourist
 
 6 destination.
 
 7      SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
 8 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $4,000 or so much
 
 9 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000 for the
 
10 establishment of a bicycle patrol program within the department
 
11 of public safety for the capitol district, including the purchase
 
12 and outfitting of two bicycles, related equipment, officers'
 
13 uniforms, and appropriate training.
 
14      As used in this Act, "capitol district" has the same meaning
 
15 as the "Hawaii capital special district" as established in
 
16 section 21-7.30, Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, whose boundaries
 
17 are delineated in section 21-7.30-2 and Exhibit 21-7.1, Revised
 
18 Ordinances of Honolulu.
 
19      SECTION 3.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
20 department of public safety for the purposes of this Act.
 
21      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.