STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1801

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1231

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1231, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve traffic safety in the State.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Prohibits the use of facial recognition software in the operation of any photo red light imaging detector system or automated speed enforcement system;

(2) Authorizes the State Highway Safety and Modernization Council to recommend dangerous intersections for installation of additional photo red light imaging detector systems;

(3) Authorizes the Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee to recommend dangerous school zones for installation of additional automated speed enforcement systems;

(4) Increases vehicle weight taxes and allocates the increased revenues to the safe routes to school program special fund;

(5) Clarifies the summons and citations processes for the automated speed enforcement systems program; and

(6) Appropriate moneys for the automated speed enforcement systems program.

Your Committees received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Pearl City Neighborhood Board No. 21, People for Active Transportation Hawaii, Ulupono Initiative, and fourteen individuals.

Your Committees received written comments on this measure from the Judiciary.

Your Committees find that Hawaii has among the highest rates of traffic-related fatalities. Your Committees also find that the implementation of photo red light imaging detector systems at intersections with the most dangerous and highest-risk transit infrastructure, as well as photo speed detector systems in school zones with the most dangerous and high-risk transit infrastructure, can help deter drivers from running red lights, and slow speeders in key areas, to help reduce traffic-related fatalities and injuries.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1231, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary,

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair