STAND. COM. REP. NO.  243-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 1753

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1753 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOPEDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase public safety on Hawaii's roadways by, among other things:

     (1)  Prohibiting the use on public roadways of a moped that is not in good working order;

     (2)  Extending certain police powers dealing with vehicle inspections to include mopeds; and

     (3)  Requiring a certificate of inspection for all mopeds.

Two concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Transportation and a concerned individual testified in support of the intent of this measure.  The Hawaii Insurers Council and several concerned individuals provided comments.

     Mopeds provide a cheaper alternative mode of transportation to driving a motor vehicle, and moped use continues to grow in popularity.  According to the City and County of Honolulu, the number of registered mopeds in Honolulu increased every year between 2006 and 2012.  With the increase in the use of mopeds, traffic safety concerns grow regarding these types of vehicles.  Your Committee finds that public safety on Hawaii's roadways is paramount and that requiring safety inspections for mopeds increases roadway safety.  However, your Committee also finds that the annual registration of mopeds would help to determine if mopeds are being inspected on an annual basis and thus also increase the safety of Hawaii's roadways.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring that mopeds be registered annually and establishing a moped registration fee of $50 per year;

     (2)  Requiring that proof of a certificate of inspection be provided to the Director of Finance for a moped to be registered each year;

     (3)  Clarifying that the certificate of inspection shall state the effective date and termination date of the certificate of inspection; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 1753, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1753, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair