STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1119

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 990

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 990, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a Traffic Fines Task Force that will examine the Finnish tiered traffic fines system;

(2) Determine whether a similar system could be implemented in Hawai‘i;

(3) Provide recommendations as to how a system could be implemented; and

(4) Appropriate funds.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Judiciary.

Your Committees find that a primary purpose for speeding fines is to deter speeding. However, flat fines fail to deter affluent offenders, as their wealth allows them to easily pay the fines. Your Committees believe that a scaled system for traffic fines, such as the system utilized by Finland, may be effective in deterring wealthy offenders. This measure will explore the feasibility of a scaled fine system by establishing a Traffic Fines Task Force to determine whether a scaled fine system could be implemented in the State.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an unspecified appropriation amount for the establishment of the Traffic Fines Task Force; and

(2) Inserting an effective date of March 22, 2075, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 990, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 990, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair