HB57

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that traffic safety is important to the people of Hawaii. For instance, every year in Hawaii, people die or are seriously injured while riding in the open beds of pickup trucks. These open beds are not designed for human transportation, and lack seat belts and other safety features. In 1996, the legislature enacted a law to prohibit children under 13 from riding in pickup beds. This law must be expanded to prohibit all persons, regardless of age, from riding in the back of pickup trucks.

Last year, we also saw the consequences of people riding motorcycles without helmets. Ben Roethlisberger, the quarterback for the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, was severely injured while riding a motorcycle without a helmet. This is a grim reminder of how important a helmet is when riding a motorcycle.

Riding without a helmet also has a social cost. Taxpayers and hospitals subsidize the health care costs of those unhelmeted accident victims through taxpayer dollars. Health care insurance for all is also increased because of the higher health care costs that unhelmeted accident victims incur. Taxpayers also have to bear additional costs of programs intended to help brain-injured accident survivors such as the neurotrauma special fund established by Act 160, Session Laws of Hawaii 2002. Businesses, taxpayers, and the State as a whole, suffer when traffic is shut down due to a traffic fatality, which is a statistically higher probability when the accident involves an unhelmeted rider.

Last, and most important of all, is the grief caused to the loved ones of an unhelmeted accident victim when the inevitable thought of whether a safety helmet would have saved their loved one enters their minds. Mandating the wearing of helmets when riding or operating these vehicles is a relatively small sacrifice of personal freedom to help prevent tragedies to families and our community.

The legislature also finds that technology could have a negative impact on the public safety and welfare of the people of Hawaii. Video screens, cell phones, and mobile media devices have been distracting drivers and has been a cause of many accidents.

SECTION 2. Section 291-14, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§291-14 Pickup trucks; passenger restrictions. (a) No person shall stand in the bed or load-carrying area of any motor vehicle commonly known as a pickup truck while the vehicle is in operation. No operator of any pickup truck shall operate the vehicle with a passenger seated in the bed or load-carrying area of the vehicle [~~unless:~~

~~(1)~~ ~~There is no seating available in the cab of the vehicle;~~

~~(2)~~ ~~The side racks of the vehicle are securely attached and the tailboard or tailgate is securely closed;~~

~~(3)~~ ~~Every passenger in the bed or load-carrying area of the vehicle is seated on the floor and does not attempt to control unlashed cargo.~~

(b) This section shall not apply to persons or corporations operating a business or businesses that serve the public, who or which are subject to the jurisdiction, supervision, and regulations prescribed by state agencies or departments nor to their agents or employees when engaged in the business of such persons or corporations.

~~(c) No operator of any pickup truck may operate the vehicle with any passenger twelve years of age or under in the bed or load-carrying area of the vehicle,~~] unless one of the following applies:

(1) An emergency exists that threatens the life of the passenger being transported in the bed or load-carrying area of the vehicle; or

(2) The vehicle is being operated in parades, caravans, or exhibitions which are officially authorized or otherwise permitted by law.

[~~(d)~~] (b) Any person who violates this section shall be subject to a fine of [~~$25~~] $100 for each [~~violation; provided that any person who violates subsection (c) shall be subject to a fine of $50 for each separate~~] violation.

[~~(e)~~] (c) As used in this section, "pickup truck" means a light truck that has a cab on the front part of the vehicle covering the driver's seat and an open bed behind the cab designed primarily to transport property or cargo, with sides and a tailgate to retain the contents within the confines of the bed, and has a maximum gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 11,000 pounds or less."

SECTION 3. Chapter 286, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IV to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§286-A Safety helmets; rules. The director shall adopt rules, subject to the requirements of chapter 91, establishing specifications and standards for safety helmets offered for sale, or sold, for use by drivers and passengers of motorcycles and motor scooters, as the director determines are necessary for the safety of those drivers and passengers. The rules shall include, but are not limited to, the requirements imposed by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218 (49 C.F.R. Sec. 571.218) and may include compliance with that federal standard by incorporation of its requirements by reference. Each helmet sold or offered for sale for use by drivers and passengers of motorcycles and motor scooters shall be conspicuously labeled in accordance with the federal standard which shall constitute the manufacturer's certification that the helmet conforms to the applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards."

SECTION 4. Section 286-81, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"PART IV. SAFETY EQUIPMENT

§286-81 Motorcycle, motor scooter, moped, etc.; protective devices. (a) No person shall:

(1) Operate a motorcycle, [or] motor scooter, or moped on any highway in the State unless the person and any passenger the person carries on the motorcycle, [or] motor scooter, or moped wears:

(A) Safety glasses, goggles, or a face shield, in the case of a motorcycle or motor scooter that is not equipped with windscreens or windshields; [~~and~~]

(B) A safety helmet; and

For the purpose of meeting the requirements of this paragraph, a required device shall meet the specifications and requirements established by rules adopted by the director;

(2) Lease or rent a motorcycle or motor scooter to another person unless the person furnishes:

(A) Safety glasses, goggles, or a face shield, in the case of a motorcycle or motor scooter that is not equipped with windscreens or windshields; [~~and~~]

(B) A safety helmet for the operator and for any passenger the operator carries on the motorcycle, motor scooter, or any other two-wheeled vehicle; and

(C) Any other protective devices required by the rules adopted by the director for the use of the person or persons intending to operate or ride as a passenger on the motorcycle or motor scooter; provided that any person to whom a motorcycle or motor scooter is leased or rented may furnish for the person's own use the protective devices required by this part.

For the purposes of meeting the requirements of this paragraph, a required device shall meet the specifications and requirements established by rules adopted by the director; [or]

(3) Sell or offer for sale for use by a driver or passenger of a motorcycle or motor scooter, any safety helmet which is not of a type meeting requirements established by the rules adopted by the director; or

(4) Sell or offer for sale or furnish any [~~safety helmet,~~] safety glasses, goggles, face shield, windscreen, windshield, or other protective devices represented to meet the requirements of this part unless the device meets the specifications and requirements established by rules adopted by the director.

[(b) No person less than eighteen years of age shall operate or ride as a passenger on a motorcycle or motor scooter on any highway in the State unless the person wears a safety helmet securely fastened with a chin strap.

~~(c) A safety helmet shall not be required for any person who operates or rides as a passenger on a motorcycle or motor scooter; provided that the motorcycle or motor scooter:~~

~~(1) Has three wheels;~~

~~(2) Is powered by an electric motor;~~

~~(3) Has a full body enclosed cab; and~~

~~(4) Has a seat belt assembly or a child restraint system for the driver and passenger;~~

~~and the operator and passenger uses the seat belt or child restraint system pursuant to sections 291-11.5 and 291-11.6.~~]

(b) For the purposes of this section, "wear a safety helmet" means having a safety helmet meeting the requirements of section 286- on the person's head that is fastened with the helmet straps and that is of a size that fits the person's head securely without excessive lateral or vertical movement.

(c) This section does not apply to a person operating, or riding as a passenger in, a fully enclosed three-wheeled motor vehicle that is not less than seven feet in length and not less than four feet in width, and has an unladen weight of 900 pounds or more, if the vehicle meets or exceeds all of the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and the rules and regulations adopted by the United States Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and if the vehicle has a seat belt assembly or a child restraint system for the driver and passenger, and the operator and any passengers use the seat belt or child restraint system pursuant to sections 291-11.5 and 291-11.6."

SECTION 5. Section 291C-150, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"(a) No person [~~under sixteen years of age~~] shall operate a bicycle upon a street, bikeway, highway, or any other public property unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that has been tested by a nationally recognized agency such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Safety Council, or the Children's Safety Network, and is designed to fit the user and protect against head trauma. This requirement also applies to a person who rides upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or who rides in a trailer towed by the bicycle.

(b) A person who provides bicycles for hire shall not rent a bicycle to any person unless every person [~~who is under age sixteen~~] is wearing a bicycle helmet, as required in subsection (a), while operating the rented bicycle, occupying a restraining seat that is attached to the rented bicycle, or riding in a trailer towed by the rented bicycle.

(c) A violation of this section is punishable by a fine of not more than $25. The parent or legal guardian having control or custody of an unemancipated minor whose conduct violates this section shall be liable for the amount of the fine imposed pursuant to this section.

SECTION 6. Chapter 291, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§291-A LCD panels and video monitors; prohibition and exceptions. (a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon any public highway that is equipped with an LCD panel or video monitor that is located at any point forward of the back of the driver's seat.

(b) A person who violates this section shall be subject to a fine of $100 for each violation.

(1) The LCD panel or video monitor installed at a point forward of the back of the driver's seat can only be used for vehicle information, system control, rear or side observation or navigation; or

(2) An LCD panel or video monitor installed at a point forward of the back of the driver's seat which can be used for television reception or video or DVD play is capable of doing so only if the gear is in park and the parking brake is engaged."

SECTION 7. Chapter 291C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§291C-A Mobile telephone use; prohibited. (a) No person shall use a mobile telephone while operating a moving motor vehicle in the State unless the mobile telephone is equipped with a hands-free accessory.

(b) No person shall use a mobile telephone, including those with hands-free accessories, while operating a moving school bus that is carrying passengers.

(1) Emergency use of a mobile telephone, including calls to 911, a hospital, an ambulance service provider, a fire department, or a law enforcement agency;

(2) Use of a mobile telephone by law enforcement or emergency personnel or by a driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, acting within the scope of official duties; or

(3) Initiating or terminating a telephone call, or turning the telephone on or off.

(d) Violation of this section shall be a violation, and courts shall impose a fine of not more than $100 for each violation.

For purposes of this section:

"Hands-free accessory" means an attachment, add-on, built-in feature, or addition to a mobile telephone, whether or not permanently installed in a motor vehicle, that when used, allows the vehicle operator to maintain both hands on the steering wheel.

"Mobile telephone" means a cellular, analog, wireless, or digital telephone capable of sending or receiving telephone messages without an access line for service.

"Use" means talking, placing, or receiving a call, or attempting to place or receive a call, on a mobile telephone."

SECTION 8. Chapter 291C, The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§291C-A Mobile Media Devices; prohibited. (a) No person shall use a mobile media device that is not integrated into the vehicle's in dash entertainment system, while the motor vehicle is in motion.

(b) Violation of this section shall be a violation, and courts shall impose a fine of not more than $100 for each violation.

For purposes of this section:

"In Dash Entertainment System" means a factory or aftermarket device that provides entertainment through the vehicles speaker system and is located in the dash of the vehicle.

"Integrated" means attached to or connected by wires or some other technology, including but not limited to, wireless or Bluetooth.

"Mobile Media Device" means any portable electronic device that provides entertainment through music, video, or games. Devices include, but are not limited to, ipods, archos, zens, zunes, and mp3 players."

SECTION 9. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 10. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	57
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII