STAND. COM. REP. NO. 424

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 221

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Transportation and Energy and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 221 entitled:

 

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

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Establish a photo red light imaging detector systems program to improve enforcement of the traffic signal laws;

 

     (2)  Allow counties to implement the photo red light imaging detector systems program;

 

     (3)  Authorize fines collected under county programs to be deposited into a general fund account;

 

     (4)  Authorize funds from this general fund account to be expended in the county in which the fine was collected for the establishment, operation, management, and maintenance of the photo red light imaging detector systems program; and

 

     (5)  Make an appropriation for the program.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Honolulu Police Department, and two individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender and two individuals.

 

     Your Committees find that the prevalence of drivers violating Hawaii's traffic laws, especially on the island of Oahu, has become intolerable, particularly drivers who run red lights.  These violations endanger the lives of motorists and pedestrians and compound the already hazardous conditions on Hawaii's roads and highways.  It has become increasingly common to hear reports of hit-and-run drivers who have run over children or the elderly.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Energy and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 221, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 221, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Energy and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

 

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

 

________________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair