STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1673

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1757

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 1757, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to revise the structure of fines for violations of various commercial vehicle laws.

Specifically, this bill:

     (1)  Requires the Department of Transportation to create a process for mailing in uncontested fine payments;

     (2)  Increases the fines and penalties for violation of commercial vehicle length and weight restrictions; and

     (3)  Repeals the progressive fine and penalty structure for repeat violation of commercial vehicle length and weight restrictions.

     Your Committee received comments in support of the measure from the Department of Transportation, the Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996, the Hawaii Transportation Association, U. Okada & Co., Ltd., and Horizon Lines.

     Your Committee finds that the current system in place for disposing of violations of commercial vehicle length and weight restrictions is burdensome on violators, commercial trucking and delivery companies, law enforcement personnel, and the courts.

     Your Committee further finds that permitting operators to mail in uncontested fines saves time and money for everyone involved in the process.  In addition, while the bill eliminates progressive fines and penalties for repeat violators, it doubles the fines and penalties for violation of commercial vehicle length and weight restrictions.  Your Committee finds that these increased fines are sufficient to deter potential violators and to punish those who commit these violations.

     Your Committee amended the measure by:

     (1)  Adding a savings clause as a new section;

     (2)  Renumbering subsequent sections accordingly; and

     (3)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1757, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1757, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair