STAND. COM. REP. 390

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 1496

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1496 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to control annoying noises by:

(1) Providing drivers an option to turn off audible reverse warning systems between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. if the vehicle is also equipped with a rearview camera system that continues to operate when the vehicle is reversing; and

(2) Requiring that any switch permitting the audible reverse warning system to be manually disengaged shall automatically turn itself off after a fixed period of time and automatically engage the audible reverse warning system.

One individual testified in support of this bill. The

Department of Transportation supported the intent of this bill. The Hawaii Transportation Association and the Honolulu Police Department opposed this bill.

 

Your Committee recognizes that this bill may place the safety of pedestrians and motorists at the mercy of the driver. The Honolulu Police Department suggested that an alternative solution for this problem would be to require another person standing to the rear of these vehicles to guide them and look out for pedestrian or vehicle traffic.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Requiring a person, other than the driver of the vehicle, to guide the driver behind the vehicle;

(2) Requiring the person behind the vehicle to have a clear view of both vehicle's rearward path and the vehicle's driver; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for

purposes of style and clarity.

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. 1496, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1496, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

 

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair