STAND. COM. REP. NO. 201

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 543

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 543 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the use of license plate flipping devices.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation.

Your Committee finds that the use of license plate flipping devices, which allows drivers to switch or conceal their license plates, has become a growing concern for law enforcement. These devices enable individuals to evade identification, obstructing efforts to enforce traffic laws and compromising public safety. This measure seeks to take a proactive approach to prevent the potential use of license plate flipping devices to ensure law enforcement can effectively track and identify vehicles involved in illegal activities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Establishing a minimum fine of $250 for violating the prohibition on license plate flipping devices; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

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. 543, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 543, 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,

____________________________

DARIUS KILA, Chair