Report Title:
Criminal Defendants'; Constitutional Rights
Description:
Specifies the exact procedure to be followed by the police when entering a home to arrest a person suspected of a crime. (SD1)
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2299 |
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TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO CHAPTER 803.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Article I, Section 6 of the Hawaii State Constitution vests the people with a right to privacy. The legislature is tasked with taking affirmative steps to implement this right to privacy. While Article I, Section 7 of the Hawaii State Constitution protects the rights of the people of Hawaii to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches, seizures, and invasions of privacy, statutory provisions of section 803-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), provide specific directives to law enforcement officers regarding entering homes to arrest offenders that afford greater protection than the constitution.
The purpose of this Act is to specify the exact procedure that must be used by the police before entering homes to arrest persons suspected of a crime.
SECTION 2. Section 803-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§803-11 Entering house to arrest. (a) Whenever it is necessary to enter a house to arrest an offender, and entrance is refused, the officer or person making the arrest may force an entrance by breaking doors or other barriers. But before breaking any door, the officer or person shall first knock on the door, demand entrance in a loud voice, and [state that the officer or person is the bearer of a warrant of arrest] state, in a loud voice, "Police. We have a warrant. Open the door"; or if it is in a case in which arrest is lawful without warrant, the officer or person shall [substantially state that information in an audible voice] state, in a loud voice, "Police. Open the door."
(b) The officer or person shall wait a reasonable amount of time before inferring constructive refusal to enter. In determining a reasonable amount of time, the following shall be taken into consideration:
(1) The size and layout of the residence;
(2) The time of day;
(3) The nature of the suspected offense;
(4) The evidence demonstrating guilt;
(5) The officer's observations that would support a forced entry; and
(6) Any exigent circumstances."
SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun, before its effective date.
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.