STAND. COM. REP. NO. 149

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1273

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. 1273 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE ALARM SYSTEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require all motor vehicles having an alarm system to have a device to electronically notify the owner that the alarm has been activated for more than three consecutive minutes.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Waikiki Area Residents Association, Citizens Against Noise, and one individual.  Testimony in opposition was received from the Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers, Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association, Hawaii Motorcycle Dealers Association, and one individual. 

     Your Committee finds that motor vehicle alarm systems are of limited utility if the owner does not know that the alarm system has been activated.  A passerby may take notice, but alarms may go off without any actual theft taking place.  Your Committee believes that car alarm systems have a legitimate purpose in warning of auto thefts, but the continuous sounding of an alarm does not seem to deter theft.

     This measure is intended to reduce the incidents of annoying car alarm systems that go off and stay on continuously.  The problem is particularly acute in the Waikiki area, with its dense population of high rise residences.  Waikiki residents and hotel guests are subject to a constant bombardment of emergency vehicle noise, noisy trucks and buses, back-up beepers, and car alarms. 

     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. 1273 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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