STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3148

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2994

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2994, S.D. 1, 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:

(1) Establish a Photo Red Light Imaging Detector Systems Program to improve enforcement of the traffic signal laws;

(2) Allow counties to implement the Photo Red Light Imaging Detector Systems Program;

(3) Authorize the deposit of fines collected under county programs into a special fund; and

(4) Authorize the expenditure of funds from the special fund by the Department of Transportation in the county in which the fine was collected for the establishment, operation, management, and maintenance of the photo red light imaging detector systems program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu, Honolulu Police Department, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i, and Hawaii Bicycling League. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary and Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that during calendar years 2014 to 2018, a total of 1,312 intersection crashes occurred statewide as a result of red light and other traffic signal violations. Your Committee further finds that red light detection cameras have been effective in cities across the nation in reducing red light violations and collisions. This measure establishes the Photo Red Light Imaging Detector Systems Program to improve enforcement of the traffic signal laws in order to increase traffic safety and reduce injuries and fatalities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2994, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2994, S.D. 2.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair