STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2648

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2725
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation and Intergovernmental
Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2725 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TOWING COMPANIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to apply statutory
requirements for towing companies whether or not they are engaged
in an actual towing operation.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the a member of the Honolulu City Council, Hawaii State
Towing Association, and a private individual.  Informational
testimony was presented by the Department of Commerce and
Consumer Affairs.

     This measure is intended to prohibit unmarked tow trucks
from being on the street.  Every tow truck, regardless of whether
or not it is engaged in a tow operation, must have the required
signage on the door and carry the required insurance, among other
requirements.  Unmarked tow trucks have been used in theft of
motor vehicles.  Your Committee believes that there is no reason
why a tow company cannot mark all of its tow trucks.  There
should be no reason for driving a tow truck other than to legally
tow a vehicle.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Transportation and Intergovernmental Affairs that is
attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2648
                                   Page 2


intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2725 and recommends that it pass
Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Transportation
                                   and Intergovernmental Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair

 
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