REPORT TITLE:
Traffic Accidents


DESCRIPTION:
Replaces the term traffic "accident" with the term traffic
"collision". (SD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        2643
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           S.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO TRAFFIC OFFENSES.



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

 1      SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to amend part II of
 
 2 chapter 291C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which relates to accidents
 
 3 and accident reports by replacing the term "accident" with the
 
 4 term "collision".
 
 5      The use of the current term "accident" in the traffic code
 
 6 implies that motor vehicle crashes are unpredictable or
 
 7 unpreventable events.  However, the overwhelming proportion of
 
 8 these crashes are the predictable or preventable result of human
 
 9 action or inaction.  Additionally, since the term "accident"
 
10 implies a lack of intent, crashes involving intentional behavior
 
11 are not covered by offenses in this part which conflicts with an
 
12 important public policy regarding the provision of prompt
 
13 assistance to crash victims in order to minimize their injuries.
 
14 For this reason, this Act proposes to replace the term "accident"
 
15 with the term "collision" which denotes only that a vehicle
 
16 contacted or struck another object.
 
17      SECTION 2.  The title to part II of chapter 291C, and
 
18 sections 291C-12, 291C-12.5, 291C-12.6, 291C-13, 291C-14,
 
19 291C-16, 291C-17, 291C-19, and 291C-20, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
 

 
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 1 are amended by substituting the word "collision" or like terms,
 
 2 wherever the word "accident" or like terms appear, as the context
 
 3 requires.
 
 4      SECTION 3.  Section 291C-15, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 5 amended to read as follows:
 
 6      "[[]§291C-15[]]  Duty upon striking unattended vehicle or
 
 7 other property.  The driver of any vehicle which [collides with
 
 8 or] is involved in [an accident] a collision with any vehicle or
 
 9 other property which is unattended resulting in any damage to the
 
10 other vehicle or property shall immediately stop and shall then
 
11 and there either locate and notify the operator or owner of such
 
12 vehicle or other property of the driver's name, address, and the
 
13 registration number of the vehicle the driver is driving or shall
 
14 attach securely in a conspicuous place in or on such vehicle or
 
15 other property a written notice giving the driver's name,
 
16 address, and the registration number of the vehicle the driver is
 
17 driving and shall without unnecessary delay notify the nearest
 
18 police office.  Every such stop shall be made without obstructing
 
19 traffic more than is necessary."
 
20      SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed.
 
21 New statutory material is underscored.
 
22      SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.