STAND. COM. REP. NO. 959-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: S.B. No. 2643
                                     S.D. 1
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B.
No. 2643, S.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRAFFIC OFFENSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to replace the term traffic
"accident" with the term traffic "collision" in part II  of
Chapter 291C, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), which relates to
accidents and accident reports.

     This bill replaces the term "accident" with the term
"collision" which denotes that a vehicle contacted or struck
another object.

     Your Committee finds that the current use of the term
"accident" in part II of Chapter 291C, HRS, implies that motor
vehicle crashes are unpredictable or unpreventable events.
However, most crashes are predictable or preventable, because
they occur due to human error.  In addition, since the term
"accident" implies lack of intent so crashes involving
intentional behavior are not covered.

     Testimonies in support of this measure were received from
the Department of Transportation, the Honolulu Police Department,
and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.  The Department of the
Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu supports
the intent of this bill.

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 959-00
                                 Page 2

 
     Your Committee notes that it passed a similar bill, H.B. No.
2687, H.D. 1, earlier this session.  This bill also deleted the
requirement in section 291C-13, HRS, that motor vehicle collision
result only in damage to a vehicle or other property, before
requiring the driver to give information or render aid.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Deleting the requirement that a motor vehicle collision
          result only in damage to a vehicle or other property
          before requiring the driver to give information or
          render aid; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style,
          clarity, and consistency.
 
     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
2643, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2643, S.D.
1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and
Hawaiian Affairs.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Transportation,



                                   ______________________________
                                   KENNETH T. HIRAKI, Chair