STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1361-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: S.B. No. 2725
                                     H.D. 2




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which
was referred S.B. No. 2725, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TOWING COMPANIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require all commercial tow
trucks to have permanently affixed on each door of the truck a
sign with the name and telephone number of the tow business.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Island Wide Towing,
and A Tow in Paradise.

     Testimony in support of this measure, with proposed
amendments, was submitted by the Hawaii State Towing Association
and Affordable Towing & Recovery Service.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying in the law that an owner can have the
          owner's vehicle unhooked for a fee of not more than $50
          when the tow truck has hooked but not moved the
          vehicle;

     (2)  Clarifying in the law that the towing company may tow
          the vehicle if the owner is unable or unwilling to pay
          the unhooking fee; and 


 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1361-00
                                 Page 2

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

     During conference committee proceedings on this measure,
conferees should explore the feasibility of further amendments to
this bill that would allow various methods of payment for the
"unhooking" fee.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of S.B. No. 2725, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and
recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto
as S.B. No. 2725, H.D. 2.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Consumer
                                   Protection and Commerce,



                                   ______________________________
                                   RON MENOR, Chair