STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1025-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2726

      S.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 2726, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist farmers and ranchers in their operations while ensuring highway safety by allowing all-terrain vehicles (ATV) and utility-terrain vehicles (UTV) to be driven on streets; provided that:

     (1)  The ATV or UTV is:

          (A)  Used as farm equipment;

          (B)  Driven on streets with no more than two lanes and with posted speed limits of no more than 35 miles per hour;

          (C)  Used to travel between properties zoned for agriculture; and

          (D)  Driven on streets during daylight hours;

     (2)  The ATV or UTV operator holds a current category (3) license or a commercial driver's license; and

     (3)  The ATV or UTV operator and passengers wear safety helmets secured with a chin strap.

     This measure also establishes a penalty for a violation.    

Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; and the Maui County Farm Bureau testified in support of this measure.  The Police Department of the County of Maui testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Transportation commented on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2726, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair