HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

550

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

PART I

     SECTION 1.  Section 132D-20, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§132D-20  Enforcement; probable cause for arrest.  (a)  This chapter shall be enforced by the department of law enforcement or each county.  The department of law enforcement and counties, or both, are authorized to enforce and administer the provisions of this chapter.

     (b)  Arrests for offenses under this chapter or under a county fireworks ordinance shall be made in compliance with chapter 803.  The facts and circumstances to establish probable cause for an arrest may include but are not limited to:

     (1)  Statements from individuals who witnessed the offense, even if those individuals are not law enforcement officers; and

     (2)  Photographs, video recordings, or other recordings that show the commission of the offense and can be authenticated by one or more witnesses; provided that a recording made using an unmanned aerial vehicle shall be exempt from the requirement of authentication by one or more witnesses.

     (c)  Video recordings or other recordings made by a law enforcement agency using, controlling, or operating an unmanned aerial vehicle shall establish probable cause for an arrest if:

     (1)  The unmanned aerial vehicle is recording directly above a public park, street, sidewalk, or easement, or any public property; and

     (2)  The act leading to the arrest is committed on a public park, street, sidewalk, or easement, or any public property.

     (d)  For the purposes of this [subsection:] section:

     "Other recording" includes any photograph or a video made using an unmanned aerial vehicle.

     "Unmanned aerial vehicle" means any aerial vehicle that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention within or on the aerial vehicle.  [The term "unmanned] "Unmanned aerial vehicle" does not include a remote-controlled airplane."

PART II

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the purchase of unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor the use of illegal fireworks.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of law enforcement for the purposes of this Act.

PART III

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

 


 

Report Title:

DLE; Fireworks; Unmanned Aerial Vehicles; Recordings; Probable Cause; Appropriation

 

Description:

PART I:  Allows recordings made by law enforcement agencies who are using, controlling, or operating unmanned aerial vehicles to establish probable cause for arrests under the Fireworks Control Law if the unmanned aerial vehicle is recording directly above public property and the act leading to the arrest is committed on public property.  PART II:  Appropriates funds to the Department of Law Enforcement for the purchase of unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor the use of illegal fireworks.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.