Report Title:

Emergency Medical Services; Authorized Emergency Vehicles

 

Description:

Requires that emergency medical services vehicles be equipped with cameras to record civilian vehicles that do not yield right of way when the emergency vehicle's audible and visual signals are on.  Imposes penalties for failure to yield right of way.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

534

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that, despite the requirements imposed by section 291C-65, Hawaii Revised Statues, many drivers do not yield right of way to authorized emergency vehicles making use of audible and visual signals, by moving to the nearest curb.

     The purpose of this Act is to improve compliance with section 291C-65 by (1) requiring that emergency medical services vehicles be equipped with cameras to record civilian vehicles that do not yield right of way when the emergency vehicle's audible and visual signals are on, and (2) imposing penalties for failure to yield right of way.

     SECTION 2.  The department of health shall adopt rules under chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requiring that all emergency vehicles of the emergency medical services system be equipped with cameras capable of recording the area of highway in front of the emergency vehicle.

     SECTION 3.  Section 291C-65, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§291C-65[]]  Operation of vehicles on approach of authorized emergency vehicles.  (a)  Except as otherwise provided by county ordinance, upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle making use of audible and visual signals, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position clear of any intersection and parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right hand edge or curb of the highway or the nearest edge or curb when the highway has multiple lanes or when the highway is a divided highway or one-way street and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle is passed, except as otherwise directed by a police officer.

     (b)  Every person who violates this section shall be subject to the following penalties:

     (1)  For a first infraction, or any infraction not preceded within one year by a prior violation of this section, a fine of $250; and

     (2)  For an infraction that occurs within one year of a prior violation of this section, a fine of $500.

     [(b)] (c)  This section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway."

     SECTION 4.  Section 291C-161, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  Every person convicted under or found in violation of section 291C-12, 291C-12.5, 291C-12.6, 291C-13, 291C-14, 291C-15, 291C-16, 291C-65, 291C-72, 291C-73, 291C-95, 291C-102, 291C-103, 291C-104, or 291C-105 shall be sentenced or fined in accordance with those sections."

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun, before its effective date.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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