STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1101-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   S.B. No. 2971

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 2971 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase public safety by amending the scope of offenses relating to negligent injury to broaden the offenses' application to include injuries caused by more types of vehicles.

The Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Maui testified in support of this measure.

     Under current law, an individual causing serious or substantial bodily injury to another individual by the operation of a motor vehicle is guilty of the offense of negligent injury in the first or second degree respectively.  However, the term "motor vehicle" does not apply to mopeds or vessels, such as jet skis.  Recently, incidents involving the negligent operation of mopeds and vessels have increased.  Within the past year alone there have been two fatalities in Maui County involving the operations of boats and several fatalities on the island of Oahu involving improper operation of a moped.  This measure will make operators of more types of vehicles, such as mopeds and vessels, more accountable for their actions when those actions involve the safety of others.

     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 S.B. No. 2971 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