STAND. COM. REP. NO. 849

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 659

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 659 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the minimum and maximum fines for operating a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant.

     The Department of Transportation, the Hawaii Strategic Highway Safety Plan, Kihei Community Association, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving submitted written comments in support of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs continues to be a problem in Hawaii.  In 2015, ninety-three fatalities occurred on Hawaii's roads, more than half of which were caused by alcohol- or drug-related driving.  In the same year, police arrested over six thousand drivers in Hawaii for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant.  Your Committee believes that the increased fines authorized by this measure will significantly deter intoxicant-impaired driving.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 659 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair