Report Title:

Disabled; Motor Vehicles; High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes

Description:

Permits disabled persons with the proper windshield placards obtained under chapter 291, part III, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to use high occupancy vehicle lanes.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	3198
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO DISABLED PERSONS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The Hawaii Revised Statutes section 347-20 states that "...it is the policy of this State to encourage and enable the . . . physically disabled to participate fully in the social and economic life of the State...".  As such, the purpose of this Act is to enable disabled persons who display windshield placards obtained under chapter 291, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to use high occupancy vehicle lanes without regard to the number of vehicle occupants.

     SECTION 2.  Section 291C-222, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§291C-222  Designation of high occupancy vehicle lane.  (a)  The director of transportation by rules adopted in accordance with chapter 91, and the counties by ordinance, may designate high occupancy vehicle lanes as to roadways under their respective jurisdictions.

     (b)  Signs and other official traffic-control devices that designate high occupancy vehicle lanes shall be placed and maintained to advise drivers of the high occupancy vehicle requirement and the hours of usage.  When the high occupancy vehicle lane also serves as a contraflow lane, the hours of usage as a high occupancy vehicle lane shall be the time when the lane is coned for use as a high occupancy vehicle lane.

     (c)  No motor vehicle shall be operated upon these lanes except in conformance with the instructions on the signs and other official traffic-control devices.

(d)  A disabled person who properly displays an unexpired windshield placard obtained in accordance with chapter 291, part III, may use any high occupancy vehicle lane, regardless of the number of occupants in the person's vehicle.

     [(d)] (e)  A motorcycle may use any high occupancy vehicle lane, regardless of the number of occupants.

     [(e)]  (f)  Any vehicle authorized by rules adopted in accordance with chapter 91 may use any high occupancy vehicle lane, regardless of the number of occupants, when the use is determined to enhance public safety and improves traffic conditions."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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