HB1722

Report Title:

Transportation

Description:

Reduces the motor vehicle safety inspection requirement for heavy commercial vehicles to once a year.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1722
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

Relating to transportation.

 

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

SECTION 1. The commercial trucking and transportation industry in Hawaii provides vital services to its citizens through the movement of goods and people on a daily basis. These companies serve as a lifeline for many of Hawaii's citizens, bringing them needed goods and transporting these goods throughout the islands on a daily basis. In fact, the latest data shows that over sixty-nine million passengers and twelve thousand tons of goods were transported throughout the state in 1999.

Heavy commercial motor vehicles are currently regulated through federal and state guidelines which require an annual inspection of all commercial vehicles. Furthermore, these regulations require:

(1) An inspection of a commercial motor vehicle prior to a driver operating that vehicle for the day;

(2) Documentation of vehicle inspections after the driver is done with the vehicle for the day; and

(3) Documentation that each vehicle is maintained on a periodic and systemic basis.

Moreover, commercial motor vehicles are also subject to roadside vehicle inspections by the state motor vehicle safety office.

Although these regulations are already in effect, heavy commercial vehicles (i.e., trucks over ten thousand pounds and buses) are also required to pass state certified inspections every six months. This appears to be redundant since these vehicles are already subject to stringent annual inspections and are already subject to surprise inspections by the state motor vehicle office.

The purpose of this Act is to reduce the motor vehicle safety inspection requirement for heavy commercial vehicles from twice a year to once a year.

SECTION 2. Section 286-26, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) The following vehicles shall be certified as provided in subsection (e) once every six months:

(1) Ambulances;

[(2) Trucks, truck-tractors, semitrailers, and pole trailers having a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds;

(3) Buses;

(4)] (2) Rental or U-drive motor vehicles one year of age or older; and

[(5)] (3) Taxicabs."

SECTION 3. Section 286-209, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) Motor carrier vehicles including but not limited to trucks, truck-tractors, semitrailers, trailers, or pole trailers having a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds, and motor carrier vehicles having a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less which transport passengers in the furtherance of a commercial enterprise, including car rental transport vehicles shall be inspected and certified once every [six] twelve months."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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