STAND. COM. REP. NO. 21-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1414

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1414 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ABANDONED VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make a person who is the registered owner of a vehicle that was deemed abandoned or derelict subject to a tiered fine system.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Council of Mayors; Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i; one member of the Maui County Council; one member of the Hawai‘i County Council; one member of the Kaua‘i County Council; County of Maui Department of Environmental Management; City and County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services, Motor Vehicles, Licensing and Permitting Division; Nanawale Community Association Board of Directors; and nine individuals.

Your Committee finds that abandoned vehicles present a widespread environmental hazard and are a public eyesore that create unsafe and unhealthy conditions for Hawaii's residents. This issue stems from the ease of abandoning vehicles, leading to individuals having multiple abandoned vehicles registered under their name. This measure deters and curtails individuals from abandoning their vehicles by expanding penalties for those who have multiple abandoned vehicles.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the tiered fine system for a person who is a registered owner of a vehicle that was deemed abandoned or derelict to apply to third, fourth, and fifth violations, rather than first, second, and third violations;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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 H.B. No. 1414, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1414, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair