STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1330

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 788

H.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 788, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Prohibit any person from operating a vehicle that does not display a current, valid registration tag or emblem and a valid inspection sticker; and

(2) Authorize a law enforcement officer to issue a citation to any person who operates a vehicle without a valid registration tag or emblem, or a valid inspection sticker.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Maui Police Department, and Honolulu Police Department.

Your Committees find existing law unintentionally holds only registered owners of vehicles liable for not updating their vehicle registration and safety inspection. Your Committees further find that often times individuals purposely do not register their vehicles knowing that if they receive a citation, it will be dismissed in court as they are not the registered owner on file. This measure will increase highway safety by ensuring that vehicles on public roads have met the requirements of the State's safety inspection program and are properly registered.

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 H.B. No. 788, H.D. 2, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair