STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1441

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 94

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 94 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF EACH COUNTY, AN EXPANDED STATEWIDE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE STATE'S "MOVE OVER LAW","

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Transportation and county police departments to expand a statewide public awareness campaign about the State's "move over law."

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and Pinky Tows Hawaii, Inc.

Your Committees find that the State's "move over law" requires that drivers slow down to a reasonable speed and, if necessary, move over into an adjacent lane upon approaching an emergency vehicle that is stopped for an emergency. Despite this requirement in statute, your Committees find that many Hawaii drivers do not follow the law. This has resulted in close calls, injuries, and even fatalities to tow truck drivers, emergency personnel, and police officers who have stopped to assist drivers in need on the roadways of the State. Expanding public awareness of the "move over law" would protect those emergency responders who are assisting other drivers. Therefore, your Committees find it appropriate to urge the Department of Transportation, as well as other departments and agencies, to promote an awareness campaign of the "move over law."

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Adding the Governor and the Department of Health to the list of entities that should collaborate with the Department of Transportation to develop an expanded public awareness campaign;

(2) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 94, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 94, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair