Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2885 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to control noise emitted by backup warning devices during late night and early morning hours. Specifically, this bill provides an option to turn off the audible reverse warning system on vehicles between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., provided the vehicle is guided by a person other than the driver.

The Honolulu Police Department and a concerned citizen testified in support of this measure. The Department of Transportation supported the intent of this measure.

Although backup warning devices are designed to warn pedestrians and others behind a vehicle that the vehicle is reversing, noise emitted from these devices has become a nuisance in certain areas. Your Committee finds that if an individual is directing the driver of a vehicle as the vehicle is reversing, a backup warning device is unnecessary.

Your Committee understands the concerns raised by DOT regarding the requirement that they develop rules to regulate switches that permit the audible reverse warning system to be turned off manually. Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

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. 2885, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2885, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.