STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2962

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1011

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation and Energy, to which was referred H.B. No. 1011, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit the use of certain types of motor vehicle wheels that are considered dangerous.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Honolulu Police Department, Hawaii Transportation Association, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that 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.  Furthermore, existing law does not address the inherent dangers associated with the use of this type of motor vehicle wheel.  Prohibiting their use will improve public safety on Hawaii's highways.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that the definition of dangerous wheel includes items that extend furthest away from the vehicle rather than furthest curbside from the vehicle.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Energy that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1011, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1011, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

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

________________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair