STAND. COM. REP. NO. 248-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.B. No. 2251

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2251 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHAPTER 291E,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the motoring public. Specifically, this bill clarifies that:

(1) Operating a motor vehicle after the person's license and privilege have been suspended or revoked for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant in accordance with section 291E-62, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), shall constitute an offense; and

(2) When determining repeat offenses:

(A) Prior offenses of operating a motor vehicle after the person's license and privilege have been suspended or revoked for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant under section 291E-62, HRS, shall be counted; and

(B) Prior offenses of operating a motor vehicle after the person's license and privilege have been suspended or revoked for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant under section 291-4.5, HRS, shall be counted.

 

The Department of Transportation, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Honolulu Police Department, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving testified in support of this bill.

Your Committee finds that driving under the influence of an intoxicant is a serious offense that is detrimental not only to the driver of the vehicle but to passengers in the vehicle and occupants of other vehicles. Persons who repeatedly violate orders of suspension or revocation of a license placed on them due to DUII are placing the public in serious danger and should be dealt with accordingly.

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. 2251 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

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

 

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair