STAND. COM. REP. NO.  618

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1757

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1757 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide relief to the property motor carrier industry by eliminating:

     (1)  Restrictions on the total gross weight of a vehicle as applied to any:

          (A)  Single axle on a vehicle; or

          (B)  Group of two or more consecutive axles on a vehicle or combination of vehicles;

          and

     (2)  Fines for second, third, or subsequent weight violations.

The Hawaii Transportation Association testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Transportation opposed this measure.

     Your Committee notes that under the provisions of this bill, a significant amount of federal aid might be lost due to non-compliance with federal regulations for certification of vehicle size and weight.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by deleting the provisions that eliminate the restrictions on the total gross weight of a vehicle.

     Your Committee has further amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to January 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1757, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1757, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

TOMMY WATERS, Chair