CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 54-16

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2016

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1011

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

       C.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sirs:

 

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 1011, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE TRAFFIC CODE,"

 

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

 

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure highway safety by prohibiting the use of certain types of motor vehicle wheels that are considered dangerous.  Specifically, this measure:

 

     (1)  Defines the term "dangerous wheels" to mean any wheel, wheel cover, hubcap, lug nut cover or cap, prong, or any ornamentation affixed to any of the aforementioned items that extends at least four inches beyond the portion of the wheel rim that extends furthest away from the vehicle and that may cause injury or property damage by minimal contact with a person or object; and

 

     (2)  Prohibits any person from operating a vehicle, trailer, or semi-trailer equipped with dangerous wheels.

 

     An increasing number of motor vehicles operating on Hawaii's roadways are reportedly using wheels with a propensity to cause severe injury and property damage.  By design, most of these wheels have parts that extend past their rim, and include items such as gorilla pokes, superpoke elbows, and giraffe necks.  However, others not designed as such are just as dangerous due to the addition of aftermarket parts, such as lug nuts and wheel covers that bear sharp pointed projections.  Your Committee on Conference finds that existing law does not address the inherent dangers associated with the use of this type of motor vehicle wheel and that prohibiting their use will improve public safety on Hawaii's highways.

 

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by changing its effective date from January 7, 2059, to upon its approval.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1011, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1011, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

 

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

 

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

 

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

 

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Co-Chair

____________________________

GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Co-Chair

 

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Co-Chair

 

 

 

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Co-Chair