STAND. COM. REP. NO. 118

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 309

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 309 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Repeal several exemptions from the prohibition on operating a pickup truck with a passenger seated in the bed or load-carrying area;

(2) Remove the requirement that a passenger be twelve years of age or younger; and

(3) Reduce the fine for violating the prohibition.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Honolulu Police Department, Hawaii Strategic Highway Safety Plan, and Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that from 2014 to 2018, eight truck bed occupants died in Hawaii due to being ejected from the bed of a pickup truck as a result of a motor vehicle crash. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, people riding in the bed or cargo areas of a pickup truck are nine times more likely to be killed than those involved in other vehicle collisions. This measure would prohibit all persons, regardless of age, from sitting in the bed of a pickup truck, ensuring the safety of all passengers and reducing motor vehicular fatalities.

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 S.B. No. 309 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair