STAND. COM. REP. NO. 53

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 1186
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation and Intergovernmental
Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1186 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY DAMAGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to suspend the driving
privileges of persons, especially minors and persons under the
age of twenty-one, who commit an act constituting graffiti and to
clarify the definition of graffiti.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from one
individual.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was received
from the Office of the Public Defender.

     Testimony indicated that graffiti is a major problem in this
State.  However, the Office of the Public Defender testified that
this measure inequitably punishes minors and persons under the
age of twenty-one who highly value driving privileges.  This
measure would suspend the driving privileges of a sixteen year
old minor who committed an act constituting graffiti for five
years until the minor reached the age of twenty-one.  Persons
over the age of seventeen would have their driving privileges
suspended for one year.

     Your Committee finds that although this measure provides for
substantial penalties for persons, especially minors and persons
under the age of 21, who commit an act constituting graffiti,

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 53
                                   Page 2


these penalties will serve as an effective deterrent against
graffiti in this State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that
these penalties apply to persons and minors who commit acts
constituting graffiti.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Transportation and Intergovernmental Affairs that is
attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the
intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1186, as amended herein, and
recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached
hereto as S.B. No. 1186, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee
on Judiciary.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Transportation
                                   and Intergovernmental Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair

 
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