Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2456 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide an option on certain motor vehicles to turn off the audible reverse warning system for noise control purposes between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., if the vehicle when reversing is guided by a person other than the driver.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Honolulu Police Department, Waikiki Neighborhood Board No. 9, Hawaii Transportation Association, and one individual.

State law requires certain large vehicles to be equipped with an audible reverse warning system to warn pedestrians and others that the vehicle is about to reverse. These vehicles frequently operate late at night or near hospitals or hotels, and the loud noise emitted from the beepers is disruptive, irritating, and aggravating.

Your Committee finds that the problem of noise is particularly acute in the Waikiki area, with its many high rise condominiums. Residents constantly complain about noise from delivery trucks making late night deliveries to hotels. This problem is complicated by the population density of the area.

Your Committee has amended this measure on the recommendation of the Department of Transportation to delete reference to rulemaking to implement this measure. The department testified that it lacked sufficient information on the subject, even after extensive research, to make rules.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2456, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2456, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.