HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1510
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Section 286-26, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

1. By amending subsection (e) to read:

"(e) Upon application for a certificate of inspection to be issued for a vehicle or moped, an inspection as prescribed by the director under subsection (g) shall be conducted on the vehicle or moped. [If] A certificate of inspection shall be issued upon payment of a fee to be determined by the director if the vehicle or moped is found to be in safe operating condition, including [adhering to head lamp requirements and specifications pursuant to section 291-25(a), as applicable, and is not]:

(1) Not being equipped with a muffler or exhaust system that fails to comply with section 291-24 or 291-24.5, as applicable[, a certificate of inspection shall be issued upon payment of a fee to be determined by the director.];

(2) Adhering to head lamp requirements and specifications pursuant to section 291-25(a), as applicable; and

(3) Not being equipped with any cover or shield installed over the license plate pursuant to section 286-73, as applicable.

The certificate shall state the effective date, termination date, name of the issuing insurance carrier, policy number of the motor vehicle insurance identification card for the inspected motor vehicle as specified by section 431:10C-107 or state the information contained in the proof of insurance card as specified by section 431:10G-106, and the odometer reading of the vehicle on the date of inspection. A sticker, authorized by the director, shall be affixed to the vehicle or moped at the time a certificate of inspection is issued. An inspection sticker that has been lost, stolen, or destroyed shall be replaced without reinspection by the inspection station that issued the original inspection sticker upon presentation of the current certificate of inspection; provided that the current certificate of inspection and inspection sticker shall not have expired at the time the replacement is requested. The director shall adopt rules to determine the fee for replacement of lost, stolen, or destroyed inspection stickers."

2. By amending subsection (g) to read:

"(g) The director of transportation shall adopt necessary rules for the administration of inspections and the issuance of certificates of inspection; provided that the rules shall[:], at a minimum:

(1) [At a minimum, require] Require inspections to ensure that a vehicle or moped is not equipped with a muffler or exhaust system that fails to comply with section 291-24 or 291-24.5, as applicable; [and]

(2) Include head lamp requirements that adhere to the specifications pursuant to section 291-25(a), as applicable[.]; and

(3) Require inspections to ensure that a vehicle is not equipped with any cover or shield installed over the license plate pursuant to section 286-73."

SECTION 2. Section 286-73, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§286-73[]] Obstruction of a license plate; prohibited. (a) The use of any cover or shield installed over a vehicle's license plate, regardless of transparency or intent, shall be prohibited.

(b) Any person, seller, or dealership who violates this section shall be fined no less than [$500 and no more than] $1,000 for each offense. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense.

(c) In addition to any person authorized to enforce this chapter, any person authorized by the State or a county to enforce parking violations may issue a citation for a violation of this section.

(d) For the purposes of this section, "cover" or "shield" means any device, material, or [film—whether] film, whether clear, tinted, mirrored, reflective, or otherwise, that is installed over or affixed to a license plate[, and is intended to alter or interfere with the visibility, legibility, or identification of the license plate by law enforcement or traffic enforcement systems]."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Certificates of Inspection; License Plates; Obstruction; Enforcement

Description:

Conditions the issuance of a certificate of inspection upon a vehicle not being equipped with any cover or shield installed over the license plate. Amends the penalty for obstruction of a license plate. Allows state or county parking enforcement officers to issue citations for vehicles with a cover or shield obstructing the license plate. Repeals the requirement that a cover or shield be intended to alter or interfere with the visibility, legibility, or identification of a license plate by law enforcement or traffic enforcement systems.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.