STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1310-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2443

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2443, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program, to be implemented by the State in at least one school zone or work zone in each county;

(2) Create a new offense of noncompliance with speed limit under automated speed enforcement system; and

(3) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Disability and Communication Access Board; Honolulu Police Department; Pearl City Neighborhood Board No. 21; Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization; Ulupono Initiative; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary; Department of the Attorney General; Department of Budget and Finance; and AAA Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that nearly half of all traffic fatalities in Hawaii in 2021 involved speeding. Your Committee further finds that speed safety cameras are proven to deter speeding and its impact and are recommended for state and local adoption by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Highway Administration. Your Committee believes that establishing an Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program will significantly reduce speed-related traffic fatalities in Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying statutory references as it relates to the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program;

(2) Limiting the implementation of the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program to those locations where a photo red light imaging detector system has been implemented; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2443, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2443, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair