STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2629

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2955
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No.
2955 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is:

     (1)  To give the Director of Transportation the authority to
          adopt rules dealing with road use restrictions; and

     (2)  To raise the maximum fine for those working on or next
          to a road who violate rules governing the use of
          traffic control devices at the work site.

     Your Committee finds that the Director of Transportation is
presently without statutory authority to limit road use to
prevent the transport of hazardous chemicals and materials
through unsuitable areas.  Your Committee heard testimony from
the Department of Transportation that it wishes to place such
limitations specifically on the transport of hazardous chemicals
and materials through the Wilson Tunnel.  Due to the sharp curve
on its Kaneohe side, and to the lack of equipment in the tunnel
to identify and respond to in-tunnel emergencies, the Wilson
Tunnel is particularly unsuitable for transport of hazardous
substances.  Your Committee notes that the Department testified
that the H-3 and Pali Tunnels will remain available for such
transport.


 
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     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the
Department of Transportation.

     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 S.B. No.
2955, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   AVERY B. CHUMBLEY, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   MATTHEW M. MATSUNAGA, Co-Chair

 
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