REPORT TITLE:
Drivers' Lic. Test; Foreign Language


DESCRIPTION:
Permits the use of foreign language exams by examiner of drivers.
(SB2316 HD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        2316
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           S.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO DRIVER'S LICENSES.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  Section 286-108, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 2 amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
 
 3      "(a)  Except as provided in section 286-107.5(a), the
 
 4 examiner of drivers shall examine every applicant for a driver's
 
 5 license, except as otherwise provided in this part.  The
 
 6 examination shall include a test of:
 
 7      (1)  The applicant's eyesight and any further physical
 
 8           examination that the examiner of drivers finds
 
 9           necessary to determine the applicant's fitness to
 
10           operate a motor vehicle safely upon the highways;
 
11      (2)  The applicant's ability to understand highway signs
 
12           regulating, warning, and directing traffic;
 
13      (3)  The applicant's knowledge of the rules of the road
 
14           based on the traffic laws of the State and the traffic
 
15           ordinances of the county where the applicant resides or
 
16           intends to operate a motor vehicle; and
 
17      (4)  The actual demonstration of ability to exercise
 
18           ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a
 
19           motor vehicle.
 

 
Page 2                                                     2316
                                     S.B. NO.           S.D. 1
                                                        H.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1 The examinations shall be appropriate to the operation of the
 
 2 category of motor vehicle for which the applicant seeks to be
 
 3 licensed and shall be conducted as required by the director.
 
 4      The examiner of drivers may provide a written examination in
 
 5 a foreign language if an applicant demonstrates the ability to
 
 6 read and understand simple English used in highway traffic and
 
 7 directional signs; provided that foreign language examinations
 
 8 shall be provided only when the director of transportation
 
 9 determines that there is a need for the foreign language
 
10 examination and funds are available to provide for the foreign
 
11 language examination.
 
12      The examiner of drivers may waive the actual demonstration
 
13 of ability to operate a motorcycle or motor scooter for any
 
14 person who furnishes evidence, to the satisfaction of the
 
15 examiner of drivers, that the person has completed the motorcycle
 
16 education course approved by the director in accordance with
 
17 section 431:10G-104.
 
18      At the time of examination, an application for voter
 
19 registration by mail shall be made available to every applicant
 
20 for a driver's license.
 
21      For the purposes of this section[, the term "applicant"]:
 
22      "Applicant" does not include any person reactivating a
 
23 license under section 286-107.5(a).
 

 
Page 3                                                     2316
                                     S.B. NO.           S.D. 1
                                                        H.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1      "Foreign language" means a language, other than English,
 
 2 used by at least 10,000 persons in the state population in the
 
 3 last decennial census."
 
 4      SECTION 2.  New statutory material is underscored.
 
 5      SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2002.