STAND. COM. REP. NO.  14-12

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1669

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1669 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to remove, in certain instances, motor vehicles from Hawaii's public roadways by allowing the courts to require:

 

     (1)  The immobilization of a motor vehicle owned by an individual convicted of driving without a license or driving with a canceled, suspended, or revoked license if the person has two or more prior convictions for the same offense in the preceding five-year period for a period not to exceed 180 days;

 

     (2)  The immobilization of a motor vehicle owned by an individual whose license has been suspended, denied, or otherwise restricted, non-renewed, non-reinstated, non-restored, revoked, or terminated due to noncompliance with an order of paternity or child support for a period not to exceed 180 days; and

 

     (3)  The registered owner of the vehicle ordered to be immobilized to surrender the number plates issued to the vehicle.

 

     This measure also provides for the removal of the wheel immobilization device and return of the vehicle's number plates after the court-ordered immobilization period is completed.

 

     Mothers Against Drunk Driving HAWAII testified in support of the intent of this measure.  The Honolulu Police Department testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu provided comments.

 

     Hawaii is faced with an ever increasing problem of individuals operating motor vehicles without a valid driver's license, or with a canceled, suspended, or revoked driver's license on Hawaii's roadways.  This presents a hazard to all motorists.  Estimates from the Honolulu Police Department approximate the number of citations issued each year for driving with a suspended, canceled, or revoked license, or driving without a valid license to be 5,000 to 6,000 annually on Oahu alone.  This measure attempts to address this issue. 

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1669 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair