HR120

WHEREAS, mopeds represent an economical alternative, or supplement, to transportation by automobile or even motorcycle for students, young adults, those with limited income, and those concerned about the environment; and

WHEREAS, mopeds and their riders are not subject to the same regulation as automobiles or motorcycles and their drivers; and

WHEREAS, two moped riders died on Oahu's roads in 2007, seven moped drivers died on Oahu's roads in 2006, and eight moped drivers died on Oahu's roads in 2005, compared to one in 2004 and none in 2003; and

WHEREAS, parking for mopeds, especially in urban areas, is very limited and parked mopeds often obstruct all or part of pedestrian sidewalks adjacent to authorized moped parking areas; and

WHEREAS, speed governors on mopeds can, and often are, disabled or modified such that the moped, including some in commercial rental fleets, can be operated at speeds in excess of what is safe and legal; and

WHEREAS, the exhaust system on mopeds can, and often is, modified such that the moped is more powerful but much noisier than designed or legal; and

WHEREAS, some moped owners, because of limited means, do not maintain the exhaust and other systems on their mopeds such that the moped is noisier than designed or legal or produces more exhaust than is legal; and

WHEREAS, mopeds, because of their relatively small size, are easily stolen and Honolulu, the nation's fifty-third largest metropolitan area, leads the nation in motorcycle and moped thefts; and

WHEREAS, mopeds, again because of their relatively small size and affordability, are increasingly used by drug dealers to make pickups and deliveries and can be maneuvered away from police in tight spaces, or abandoned if need be; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-Fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, that the Department of Transportation is requested to convene a task force for the purpose of determining how the advantages of mopeds can be maximized, the disadvantages minimized, and necessary legislation be identified; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be chaired by the Director of Transportation and consist of the following members:

(1) The Chief of Police and Director of Finance, or other official responsible for motor vehicle licensing and registration, from the City and County of Honolulu;

(2) One representative of the moped sales industry, to be appointed by the Governor;

(3) One representative of the moped rental industry, to be appointed by the Governor;

(4) One member of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate President;

(5) One member of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation, the Mayor, the Chief of police, and the Director of Finance of the City and County of Honolulu, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Governor.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Mopeds; task force

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	120
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII