STAND. COM. REP. NO.754

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: S.B. No. 1599

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1599, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PENALTIES AND PROCEDURES ON ARREST,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to impose criminal penalties for the refusal by any driver of a motor vehicle or moped to provide identification upon being stopped by a police officer for a traffic infraction or offense.

Your Committee finds that under present law, a police officer stopping a driver for a suspected traffic infraction is limited to issuing the person a citation or summons. Your Committee finds, however, that such persons sometimes refuse to give their names or give false names to avoid receiving a citation or summons, thus frustrating effective law enforcement.

Your Committee further finds that knowing the person's true identity will permit the officer to check for outstanding arrest warrants and ensure that the proper person receives the citation and summons. Accordingly, your Committee finds that this bill will permit a police officer to arrest a person who refuses to provide accurate information regarding the person's identity, thus leading to more effective law enforcement.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1599, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair