STAND. COM. REP. NO 343

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1160

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Transportation and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1160 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a three-year pilot photo red light imaging detector system program to improve enforcement of the traffic signal laws in all counties and make other amendments relating to highway safety.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Hawaii Bicycling League, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawaii, and six individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from five individuals.

     Your Committees find that the prevalence of drivers violating Hawaii's traffic laws, especially on the Island of Oahu, has become intolerable, particularly drivers who run red lights.  These violations endanger the lives of motorists and pedestrians and compound the already hazardous conditions on Hawaii's roads and highways.  It has become increasingly common to hear reports of hit-and-run drivers who have run over children or the elderly.  Disregarding traffic signals has also been the common denominator in recent highly-publicized motor vehicle crashes that have claimed lives.

     Your Committees further find that in other jurisdictions in the United States, Canada, Europe, and other countries throughout the world, the photo red light imaging detector system has already demonstrated its reliability, efficiency, and effectiveness in identifying and deterring those who run red lights.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring that the photo red light imaging detector system program begin at three locations to be selected by the Department of Transportation based on data relating to violations and accidents;

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of July 30, 2022, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1160, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1160, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair

____________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair