STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2501

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2234

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 2234 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE USE OF INTOXICANTS WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase motor vehicle safety by lowering the threshold blood alcohol concentration for the offense of operating a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; County of Hawai‘i, Office of the Mayor; Honolulu Police Department; Maui County Police Department; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, City & County of Honolulu; Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board; Hawai‘i Alliance for Drug-Free Communities; National Safety Council; Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety; Mothers Against Drunk Driving; and twenty-five individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender, American Beverage Institute, and Wine Institute.

Your Committee finds that there were over one hundred traffic fatalities in Hawaii last year. Your Committee further finds that in over half of those fatalities, alcohol was a contributing factor. This measure will help to reduce the number of alcohol involved fatalities in the State by reducing the blood alcohol concentration which constitutes an offence of operating a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant.

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. 2234 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair