STAND. COM. REP. NO.  13

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 823

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 823 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRAFFIC FINES AND FEES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to promote public safety while helping to defray the administrative costs of the Judiciary by:

     (1)  Increasing fines and fine ceilings for certain traffic offenses;

     (2)  Increasing administrative fees for certain traffic offenses; and

     (3)  Allocating portions of the increased administrative fees into the Judiciary Computer System Special Fund, the Judiciary Facilities Repair and Maintenance Fund, and the General Fund.

     While the public safety of our roadways is of the utmost importance, administration of the justice system tasked with addressing this issue is costly.  Although raising fines, fine ceilings, and administrative fees for certain traffic offenses would generate revenue for the State, the greater purpose served by these increases is that they will act as a deterrent to unsafe behavior while operating a motor vehicle, thereby promoting public safety.

     Your Committee notes that while this measure calls for twenty five percent of the increase in administrative fees to be deposited into the Judiciary Facilities Repair and Maintenance Special Fund, no such fund currently exists.  Your Committee further notes that the Judiciary stated that they would be willing to work on language for the establishment of this special fund and encourages the Judiciary to provide necessary language to the Committee on Judiciary as this bill proceeds through the legislative process.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 823 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair