CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 1

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2007

RE:    S.B. No. 1529

       S.D. 2

       H.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 1529, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to clarify the civil adjudication of civil traffic infractions.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that this measure would provide clear, unambiguous, and consistent methods of processing traffic infractions in a more expedient and less burdensome manner, while ensuring protections against self-incrimination for defendants.  Currently, a vast majority of lesser traffic offenses can be adjudicated without requiring the defendant's appearance in court.  However, some methods used in processing traffic infractions remain unclear, ambiguous, and inconsistent.  This measure attempts to address these issues.  Your Committee on Conference notes that the measure permits the court to schedule the criminal and civil cases concurrently.

     Your Committee on Conference has adopted the S.D. 2 version of this measure that is substantially similar to the H.D. 2 version, in addition to changing references to "citations" to "infractions", with the concurrence of the Judiciary.  Your Committee on Conference has also changed the effective date from July 1, 2112, to January 1, 2008.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1529, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1529, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Co-Chair	____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair
____________________________ TOMMY WATERS, Co-Chair	____________________________ CLAYTON HEE, Co-Chair