STAND. COM. REP. NO. 632

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1237

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1237 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to provide an option to turn off the audible reverse warning system on trucks for noise control purposes between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

 

     This measure applies if the vehicle is:

 

     (1)  Equipped with a rearview camera system in the rear that operates whenever the vehicle is reversing;

 

     (2)  Equipped with flashing lights in the rear of the vehicle which are activated when a vehicle is reversing; or

 

     (3)  Guided by a person, other than the driver of the vehicle, who is positioned behind the vehicle with a clear view of both the vehicle's rearward path and the vehicle's driver.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation (DOT), Hawaii Transportation Association, McCully - Moiliili Neighborhood Board #8, Ala Moana/Kakaako Neighborhood Board, and two individuals.  Testimony in opposition was received from the Honolulu Police Department.

 

     Your Committee finds that one of the contributors to noise pollution is the loud beeping sound emitted by large vehicles when they are reversing.  This is due to a state law that requires certain large vehicles to be equipped with an audible reverse warning system.  This safety measure is meant to warn pedestrians and others in the back of a large vehicle that the vehicle is about to reverse.  However, when these vehicles operate late at night or near hospitals or hotels noise pollution results.

 

     The intent of your Committee is to protect and preserve the peace and quiet of communities by removing or reducing the causes of noise pollution, while preserving the safety of these communities provided by warnings activated by noise.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure on the recommendation of the DOT to delete reference to administrative rules.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1237, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1237, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and International Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair