SB758 HD2

Report Title:

Driver's License Examination; Foreign Languages

 

Description:

Permits the use of foreign language exams by examiner of drivers. DOT determines the foreign language. Effective July 1, 2001. (SB758 HD2)

 

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	758
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 2

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO DRIVER'S LICENSES.

 

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

SECTION 1. Section 286-108, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) Except as provided in section 286-107.5(a), the examiner of drivers shall examine every applicant for a driver's license, except as otherwise provided in this part. The examination shall include a test of:

(1) The applicant's eyesight and any further physical examination that the examiner of drivers finds necessary to determine the applicant's fitness to operate a motor vehicle safely upon the highways;

(2) The applicant's ability to understand highway signs regulating, warning, and directing traffic;

(3) The applicant's knowledge of the rules of the road based on the traffic laws of the State and the traffic ordinances of the county where the applicant resides or intends to operate a motor vehicle; and

(4) The actual demonstration of ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle.

The examinations shall be appropriate to the operation of the category of motor vehicle for which the applicant seeks to be licensed and shall be conducted as required by the director.

The department of transportation shall determine which foreign language examinations shall be prepared pursuant to this section; provided that the department shall reimburse a county for the reasonable cost incurred by that county for preparing a foreign language examination. The examiner of drivers shall provide a written examination in a foreign language, as determined by the department of transportation; provided that the applicant demonstrates an ability to read and understand simple English used in highway traffic and directional signs.

For purposes of this section, a "foreign language" means any language other than English.

The examiner of drivers may waive the actual demonstration of ability to operate a motorcycle or motor scooter for any person who furnishes evidence, to the satisfaction of the examiner of drivers, that the person has completed the motorcycle education course approved by the director in accordance with section 431:10G-104.

At the time of examination, an application for voter registration by mail shall be made available to every applicant for a driver's license.

For the purposes of this section, the term "applicant" does not include any person reactivating a license under section 286-107.5(a)."

SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.