STAND. COM. REP. NO. 875

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1401
                                     H.D. 2




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which
was referred H.B. No. 1401, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE TOWING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to allow the public to
distinguish between legitimate tow truck businesses, and car
thieves using tow trucks, by requiring tow truck businesses to
affix their name and telephone number to the doors of their
trucks.

     Hawaii State Towing Association (HSTA) testified in support
of the bill, stating that the identification required by this
bill would have the extra benefit of serving to advertise tow
truck businesses.

     The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) took
no position on this bill and encouraged your Committee to amend
the bill to require tow operators to maintain "garagekeepers
insurance" sufficient to protect owners of towed vehicles in the
event of loss or damage.  DCCA stated that this coverage is
apparently maintained by most tow operators and was a matter of
discussion at prior hearings.

     Your Committee has amended this bill in accord with DCCA's
suggestions, and has also made technical, nonsubstantive
amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.


 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 875
                                 Page 2

 
     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 1401, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and
recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto
as H.B. No. 1401, H.D. 2.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Consumer
                                   Protection and Commerce,



                                   ______________________________
                                   RON MENOR, Chair