STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1205

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 693

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 693, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase traffic safety by establishing a three-year pilot photo red light imaging detector system program that is administered by a nonprofit organization and amending other statutes regarding highway safety.

The Department of Transportation, State Highway Safety Council, American Medical Response, and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii and a concerned individual opposed this measure.  Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawaii, Hawaii Bicycling League, and two concerned individuals provided comments.

     Your Committee notes that revenues generated from the proposed system shall go into the general fund, and thus your Committee has concerns that it respectfully asks the Committee on Finance to consider regarding the necessity and practicality of mandating that the pilot photo red light imaging detector system program be administered by a nonprofit organization. 

     In addition, your Committee respectfully asks the Committee on Finance to consider having an employee of the police department, rather than a police officer, examine whether the ticket should be issued.  Next, your Committee notes that the intersection of Vineyard Boulevard and Punchbowl Street is a particularly dangerous one.  Your Committee further finds that it is already equipped with the hardware necessary for a red light camera.  Accordingly, your Committee respectfully urges the Committee on Finance to consider adding the intersection of Vineyard Boulevard and Punchbowl Street as a sixth location for the photo red light imaging detector system.

     Lastly, your Committee finds that the concerns of the shipping companies regarding their trailers being ticketed when the truckers they hire run through red lights are valid, and respectfully requests that these concerns be taken into consideration by the Committee on Finance.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 693, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair