STAND. COM. REP. NO.106

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 680

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 680 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TOWING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purposes of this measure are:

(1) To require commercial tow trucks to be registered and to display distinguishing license plates and decals;

(2) To require county Directors of Finance to establish a schedule of tow truck registration fees; and

(3) To prohibit tow truck operators from collecting charges and fees unless they comply with the registration and licensing fee requirements.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Towing Association. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu and the Hawaii Insurers Council. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs provided comments on this measure.

Your Committee finds that with limited commercial and residential parking space available in the State, towing companies run a booming business. Towing a vehicle can be dangerous to persons nearby, and can also result in damage to the towed vehicle if done improperly. Therefore, your Committee finds that it is important to the public safety and welfare that towing companies be registered and display some sort of insignia to illustrate their registration.

While other commercial fleet vehicles must have special license plates to identify themselves, commercial tow trucks do not. Therefore, your Committee supports this measure, which will ensure public safety and increase public confidence in local towing companies.

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 S.B. No. 680 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations,

____________________________

CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair