STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2545

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3248

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 3248 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to permit motor vehicle backup warning beepers to be disabled if the vehicle is equipped with a rear view camera system or a watchperson is on duty.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from four individuals.  The Honolulu Police Department and Royal Star Hawaii Motorcoach Tours & Destination Services testified in opposition.  The Department of Transportation and Hawaii Transportation Association submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that the increasing mix of residential and business establishments in close proximity has led to noise complaints regarding delivery and other vehicles equipped with audible reverse warning systems.  Your Committee understands the frustration of residents and visitors, particularly in dense urban neighborhoods and resort destinations.  However, the reverse warning systems provide protection for pedestrians and other drivers, and your Committee believes any proposals to alleviate the noise must be carefully considered.

     Your Committee has amended this measure accordingly, by:

     (1)  Providing that the audible reverse warning system may be manually turned off for noise control purposes only between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.;

     (2)  Deleting the rearview camera option and requiring a watchperson who is continuously on duty to ensure safety; and

     (3)  Clarifying that any switch permitting the audible reverse warning system to be manually disengaged shall automatically turn off when the transmission is shifted out of reverse, instead of after a fixed period of time, and automatically engage the audible reverse warning system.

     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. 3248, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3248, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and International Affairs,

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair