STAND. COM. REP. NO. 288
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2015
RE: H.B. No. 901
Honorable Joseph M. Souki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Eighth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2015
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 901 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
(1) Allowing the use of blue and red lamps, reflectors, or illumination devices on approved law enforcement vehicles of the AG and Harbors Division; and
(2) Amending the definition of "authorized emergency vehicle" to include AG and Harbors Division law enforcement vehicles.
Under current law, AG investigators have all the powers and authority of a police officer or a deputy sheriff. Appointed enforcement officers of the Harbors Division are conferred the powers of police officers and are tasked with enforcing the laws and regulations for harbors in the State. Despite this law enforcement responsibility and authority, neither department has the official and explicit authority to use law enforcement vehicles with emergency response lights. This measure would explicitly allow the use of emergency response lights on approved law enforcement vehicles of both departments and assist them in enforcing the laws of the State.
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 H.B. No. 901 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,
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____________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair |
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