HB1052

SECTION 1. Section 249-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) Upon receipt of the tax, the director of finance shall number and register the vehicle in the owner's name in a permanent record or book to be kept by the director for this purpose, and shall furnish the owner thereof with a receipt showing upon its face the license number issued for the vehicle and the fact that the license tax has been paid thereon for the whole or the remainder of the current year in which the receipt is issued. The director of finance shall also furnish the owner, upon the original registration of the vehicle, two number plates for the vehicle or one plate in the case of trailers, semitrailers, or motorcycles with the registration number marked thereon. Upon the payment of the tax for each year, a tag or emblem bearing a serial number and the month and year of expiration shall be provided to the owner[.]; provided that the tag or emblem shall be easily visible, readily identifiable, and distinguishable under actual traffic conditions. Transfer of current number plates, tag, or emblem, except as authorized by this chapter or by chapter 286, is punishable by a fine of not more than $50 for each offense."

SECTION 2. Section 286-61, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§286-61 Penalty. Any person who violates sections 286-41, 286-42, 286-44.5 to 286-56.5, and 286-58 to 286-60 shall be fined not less than [$5] $200 nor more than [~~$1,000;~~] $2,000; provided that any corporate owner of a motor vehicle who fails to register a motor vehicle as required by section 286-41(a) following a transfer of the vehicle between counties shall be fined $1,000 for each violation. Any person who violates section 286-43, 286-44, or 286-57 shall be fined not less than $5 and not more than $1,000 [or], imprisoned not more than one year, or both."

SECTION 3. The director of finance of the city and county of honolulu shall improve the design of vehicle registration tags or emblems so that they are easily visible, readily identifiable, and distinguishable under actual traffic conditions, pursuant to section 249-7, Hawaii revised statutes; provided that the director shall coordinate with the directors of finance of each county to design a uniform tag or emblem statewide. The new tags or emblems shall be distributed to vehicle owners no later than January 1, 2008.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 for the design of a new vehicle registration tag or emblem that is easily visible, readily identifiable, and distinguishable under actual traffic conditions.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the city and county of honolulu for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1052
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII