STAND. COM. REP. NO.186

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 997

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 997 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RIDING IN CARGO AREAS OF PICKUP TRUCKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to gradually increase the minimum age requirement for individuals riding in the bed of pickup trucks.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Police Department of the City and County of Honolulu, the Maui County Police Department, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, and State Farm Insurance. The Office of the Public Defender testified with concerns regarding this measure, and the Department of Transportation submitted testimony taking no position on this measure.

Your Committee finds that passengers riding in the bed of pickup trucks are extremely vulnerable when a collision occurs. During a crash, the vehicle comes to a abrupt halt, but the passengers continue moving forward at the same speed. Therefore, passengers in the bed of a truck are likely to strike the cab or be ejected completely in the event of an accident.

In addition, passengers riding in the bed of trucks are vulnerable even when there is no accident. A sudden stop, swerve, turn, or merely loss of balance can cause the passenger to fall out of the truck.

Faced with these inherent dangers, your Committee agrees that the minimum age requirement for riding in a pickup bed should be increased. While adults are mature enough to make their own decisions, your Committee finds that minors may decide to ride in a truck bed (or be forced to by a parent) without considering all of the possible consequences.

Your Committee amended this measure to clarify that the minimum age requirement applies to a person riding in a truck bed; standing in the bed of a moving truck remains prohibited for persons of all ages.

Your Committee also made numerous technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 997, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 997, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations,

____________________________

CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair