THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	162
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the honolulu police department create a noise abatement task force to reduce noise pollution through enforcement of specified conditions, state laws, rules, regulations, and standards.

     WHEREAS, from July 2005 to June 2006, there were 343 complaints about noise island-wide to the Department of Health, an increase of 26 complaints from the previous fiscal year; and

     WHEREAS, as part of the increased development of Hawaii's towns and cities, there has been an increase in noise pollution; and

     WHEREAS, studies indicate that noise pollution has numerous detrimental health effects, including: sleep disturbance effects; cardiovascular and psychophysiological effects; performance reduction effects; annoyance responses; and effects on social behavior; and

     WHEREAS, as noise pollution increases within urban areas, the occurrence of psychological and physiological effects on surrounding residential communities are significant; and

     WHEREAS, rules, regulations, state laws and standards exist for the purpose of reducing noise pollution; and

     WHEREAS, enforcement of rules, regulations, state laws and standards concerning noise pollution has been uneven; and

     WHEREAS, an increased focus needs to be placed on the enforcement of present rules, regulations, state laws and standards that concern noise pollution in order to improve the health and welfare of affected communities; and

     WHEREAS, the Honolulu Police Department, the Honolulu Liquor Commission, the Hawaiian Humane Society and other state and local agencies are responsible for enforcement of rules, regulations, state laws and standards governing noise pollution; and

     WHEREAS, in November, 2006, the Honolulu Police Department initiated a sweeping crackdown on dangerous drivers in a campaign to reduce the number of speeding-related accidents and fatalities; and

     WHEREAS, the Honolulu Police Department, Honolulu Liquor Commission, Hawaiian Humane Society and other state and local agencies responsible for noise pollution enforcement should adopt policies to strictly enforce noise pollution regulations, rules, state laws and standards; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Honolulu Police Department is requested to create a noise abatement task force, similar to the speed enforcement task force established in November of 2006, to reduce noise pollution through enforcement of specified conditions, rules, regulations, state laws and standards; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Honolulu Liquor Commission and Hawaiian Humane Society are requested to adopt policies to strictly enforce noise pollution regulations, rules, state laws and standards;

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Honolulu Police Department, the Honolulu Liquor Commission, and the Hawaiian Humane Society.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Noise Pollution; Noise Abatement Task Force