STAND. COM. REP. NO.  187-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2556

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2556 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VEHICLES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Authorize the county directors of finance to withhold the issuance or renewal of a certificate of registration until the county is reimbursed for all costs relating to the disposition of an abandoned vehicle;

 

     (2)  Make it a misdemeanor, with a $250 to $500 fine, if a person abandons any vehicle on any public or private roadway or any property without the consent of the owner or lessee;

 

     (3)  Require the court to report the misdemeanor conviction to the county director of finance, who may proceed to prohibit the person from operating a vehicle; and

 

     (4)  Authorize the county to assess and collect fees, fines, and penalties for actions relating to the disposition of abandoned and derelict vehicles.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui, a Councilmember of the County Council of Maui, the Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu, and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Transportation and Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that abandoned vehicles on public roads are a widespread environmental concern that adversely impacts human health and safety, and in recent years appears to be increasing exponentially.  This measure seeks to reduce the number of abandoned vehicles in the State by penalizing owners of abandoned cars through restrictions and fines.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     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. 2556, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2556, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair