STAND. COM. REP. NO. 244

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1406

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 1406 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE FINES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to replace the fine schedule of vehicle weight violations by increasing potential fines based on the magnitude of vehicle weight violations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation.

Your Committee finds that the State's transportation infrastructure supports thousands of residents each day. However, large private and commercial vehicles that exceed weight limits may place undue burdens on the State's transportation infrastructure. To preserve roadways, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure across the State, simplifying the definitions of legal vehicle weights for commercial vehicles will prevent confusion and provide uniform applicability. Therefore, this measure will revise the fine schedules to a scale that charges vehicles for each pound that exceeds the one hundred pound limit, while also removing the arbitrary fine limit of $1,160.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1406 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts,

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair