STAND. COM. REP. NO.  283

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 1011

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1011 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE TRAFFIC CODE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure highway safety by prohibiting the use of certain types of motor vehicle wheels that are considered dangerous.  Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Defines the term "dangerous wheels" to mean any wheel, wheel cover, hubcap, lug nut cover or cap, prong, or any ornamentation affixed to any of the aforementioned items that extends past the wheel's rim and that may cause injury or property damage by minimal contact with a person or object; and

     (2)  Prohibits any person from operating a vehicle, trailer, or semi-trailer equipped with dangerous wheels.

The Honolulu Police Department testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Transportation supported the intent of this measure.  The Hawaii Transportation Association provided comments.

     An increasing number of motor vehicles operating on Hawaii's roadways are reportedly using wheels with a propensity to cause severe injury and property damage.  By design, most of these wheels have parts that extend past their rim, and include items such as gorilla pokes, superpoke elbows, and giraffe necks.  However, others not designed as such are just as dangerous due to the addition of aftermarket parts, such as lug nuts and wheel covers that bear sharp pointed projections.  Your Committee finds that existing law does not address the inherent dangers associated with the use of this type of motor vehicle wheel and that prohibiting their use will improve public safety on Hawaii's highways.

     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. 1011 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committees on Judiciary and Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair