STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2992

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2630

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2630, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PEDESTRIANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize pedestrians to act contrary to the Statewide Traffic Code when a reasonably careful pedestrian would determine that there is no immediate danger of a collision with a moving vehicle; and

(2) Require that any person that drives a motor vehicle greater than the speed limit be fined not less than $100.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Kauaʻi County Council, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute, and five individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that jaywalking laws do not reduce pedestrian deaths or make streets safer. Additionally, jaywalking laws are disproportionately enforced against disadvantaged groups and minorities, with fines for pedestrians having a disproportionate impact on people who do not drive and who primarily rely on walking as a means of transportation. This measure will encourage more people to walk while making the streets friendlier to pedestrians.

Your Committee notes that the requirement that any person that drives a motor vehicle greater than the speed limit be fined not less than $100 contained in section 3 of this measure may exceed the scope of the measure's title.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2630, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair