Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1746 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to require that all tow away zones have notices that are clearly visible to potential parkers at all times.

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) and a private citizen testified in support of this measure.

Concerns were voiced by both the private citizen and DCCA about the failure to post adequate or conspicuous signage near tow away zones, with unwary vehicle owners having their vehicle towed away. Your Committee finds that this measure should address the possible impropriety of property owners and the creation of so-called "tow traps."

However, a more specific regulation for the posting of tow away signs that allows the driver of a vehicle to clearly observe the tow away sign needs to be inserted into the bill. Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill to require that tow away notices are clearly visible to the driver approaching the parking space, or within any marked or unmarked parking space, where the vehicle is subject to being towed.

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 H.B. No. 1746, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1746, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.