Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 830, H.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure as referred to your Committee was to create a separate category of driver's license for three-wheeled motor scooters, and to authorize holders of commercial driver's licenses to operate such scooters.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Transportation and the Honolulu Police Department.

Due to the unanimous testimony in opposition to this measure, your Committee amended this measure by replacing its contents with the contents of Senate Bill No. 211, S.D. 2. The purpose of Senate Bill No. 211, which is pending in the House of Representatives, is to require all drivers under the age of eighteen to be accompanied by a licensed driver over the age of twenty-one when driving between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.

Your Committee fully supports the intent of S.B. No. 211 as part of the State's effort to ensure highway safety. Your Committee finds that young and inexperienced drivers often exercise poor driving judgment and engage in high-risk driving behavior, particularly at night. Your Committee finds that this measure will promote public safety by allowing more experienced drivers to teach young drivers better responsibility, judgment, and technical driving ability.

Under this measure, persons under eighteen can drive at night unaccompanied by an adult for school activities and employment purposes, if the driver carries a signed statement of necessity from a parent or employer. Emancipated minors may also drive alone at night.

Your Committee notes that a change to the language of S.B. No. 211, S.D. 2, was made to correct the paragraph references on page 2, line 13.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 830, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 830, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.