STAND. COM. REP. NO. 287

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1238

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1238 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to add motor scooters to the list of vehicles that are prohibited from having a noisy muffler.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from three individuals.  Testimony in opposition was received from Street Bikers United Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that loud noise generated by motorcycles, mopeds, and motor scooters are a constant annoying source of irritating noise, particularly in Waikiki.  Testimony indicated that there is nothing more disturbing, jolting, and obnoxious than to hear the loud "varoom" in the middle of the night.  There is no justifiable reason for the loud muffler noise.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for purpose of clarity.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1238, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1238, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and International Affairs,

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair