STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2990

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1190

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 1190, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require the police department of each county to:

 

     (1)  Identify roadways or the class of roadway that is most critical to the free movement of persons and commerce; and

 

     (2)  Establish protocols necessary to coordinate major traffic accident investigations by law enforcement and other authorities, including immediately notifying the medical examiner in the case of fatal traffic accidents.

 

     Written comments in support of the measure were submitted by one individual.  Written comments presented to your Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that a thorough investigation of traffic accidents, particularly those accidents involving fatalities, is essential; however, the lengthy closure of some roadways in Hawaii, such as Fort Weaver Road, for example, can result in bumper-to-bumper gridlock and half-day commutes.  Your Committee finds that, by coordinating investigation of traffic accidents with all other involved authorities and parties, including medical examiners, the time required to block roads for traffic accident investigations should be significantly shortened.  Your Committee also notes that the measure is not intended to restrict a police department's authority to enforce any of the powers otherwise granted to it by law.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1190, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1190, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations,

 

 

 

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair