STAND. COM. REP. NO. 11-16
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2016
RE: H.B. No. 901
Honorable Joseph M. Souki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Eighth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2016
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 901 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
(1) Allowing the use of blue and red lamps, reflectors, or illumination devices on approved law enforcement vehicles of the affected agencies; and
(2) Including official vehicles of the Department of the Attorney General and Harbors Division in the statutory definition of "authorized emergency vehicle."
Under current law, the Attorney General's investigators have all powers and authority of police officers or deputy sheriffs. Appointed enforcement officers of the Harbors Division are conferred the powers of police officers and are tasked with enforcing the laws and regulations for harbors in the State. Despite this law enforcement responsibility and authority, neither department has the official and explicit authority to use law enforcement vehicles with emergency response lights. This measure will explicitly allow the use of emergency response lights on approved enforcement vehicles of both agencies and assist them in enforcing the laws of the State.
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 H.B. No. 901 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,
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____________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair |
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