STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1467

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1285

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 1285, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a new traffic infraction for those driving with a blood alcohol concentration between .05 grams and .079 grams;

(2) Amend the administrative process at the Administrative Driver's License Revocation Office;

(3) Establish a tiered administration revocation period of a driver's license for those arrested for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant; and

(4) Require the Department of the Attorney General to report on cases for certain offenses related to impaired driving.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; one member of the Hawaiʻi County Council; Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaiʻi; Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; Mala Hanai Pua LLC; Hawaii Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving; Hawaiʻi Alcohol Policy Alliance; Lokahi Treatment Centers; Maikai Cleaning Services LLC; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary; Department of the Attorney General; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Maui; and AAA Hawaiʻi.

Your Committee finds that timely and effective revocation of driver's license for individuals arrested for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant is critical to ensuring public safety. Delays or ambiguities in the revocation process can hinder enforcement efforts and allow impaired drivers to remain on the road, increasing the risk of accidents. Your Committee believes that strengthening the procedures for administrative license revocation will improve accountability and ensure that penalties are applied consistently and effectively.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have established a new traffic infraction for those driving with a blood alcohol concentration between .05 grams and .079 grams;

(2) Clarifying that if a respondent has refused to be tested after being informed of their rights, then the applicable revocation periods shall be doubled;

(3) Deleting language that would have required the Department of the Attorney General to report on cases for certain offenses related to impaired driving;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments 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 S.B. No. 1285, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1285, S.D. 2, 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