THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2697

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 291C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§291C-    Shoulder lanes; use prohibited.  (a)  Except as otherwise provided in section 291C-26 or as permitted during hours designated by the department, no vehicle shall be driven on the shoulder of a roadway.

     (b)  A person who violates this section shall be subject to the following penalties:

     (1)  For a first infraction, or any infraction not preceded within one year by a prior violation of this section, a fine of $          ;

     (2)  For a second or subsequent violation committed within one year of the first violation, a fine of $          .

     §291C-    Expired registration; enforcement; penalties.  (a)  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, after verifying the registration status of a vehicle the department of transportation and the county police departments may impound a vehicle that is parked on a public roadway or in a commercial parking lot that is open to the public and cause the vehicle to be towed pursuant to section 290-11(b) through (i); provided that before towing the vehicle, the department of transportation or a county department of finance has verified that the vehicle is not currently registered and has not been registered for the three previous consecutive years or more.

     (b)  The owner of a vehicle towed pursuant to subsection (a) may recover the vehicle by registering the vehicle before recovering the vehicle under section 290-11 and shall present the vehicle's current registration when recovering the vehicle.

     (c)  The owner of a vehicle towed pursuant to subsection (a) shall:

     (1)  Not be liable for any towing or storage charges under section 290-11 if the vehicle was improperly impounded or towed; and

     (2)  Be allowed to recover the vehicle upon presenting the vehicle's current registration without payment to the towing company.

The towing company shall allow a vehicle owner to enter the vehicle to obtain the vehicle's current registration certificate to establish ownership.

     (d)  The department of transportation and the county police departments may establish rules as necessary for the enforcement of this section.

     (e)  The department of transportation shall submit an annual report to the legislature detailing by county the enforcement activity of this section no later than twenty days prior to each regular session."

     SECTION 2.  Section 286-61, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§286-61  Penalty.  Any person who violates sections 286‑41, 286-42, 286-44.5 to 286-56.5, and 286-58 to 286-60 shall be fined not less than $5 nor more than $1,000; provided that any corporate owner of a motor vehicle who fails to register a motor vehicle as required by section 286-41(a) following a transfer of the vehicle between counties shall be fined $1,000 for each violation[.]; provided further that any owner of an out-of-state motor vehicle brought into the State who fails to register the out-of-state motor vehicle pursuant to section 286‑41, 286-50, or 286-54 shall be fined not less than $           and not more than $           for each violation.  Any person who violates section 286-43, 286-44, or 286-57 shall be fined not less than $5 and not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both."

     SECTION 3.  Section 291C-227, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§291C-227  Penalty.  A person who violates any provision of this part shall [for a first conviction thereof be fined $75; for conviction of a second offense committed within one year after the date of the first offense, the person shall be fined $150; for conviction of a third or subsequent offense committed within one year after the date of the first offense, the person shall be fined $200.], for each conviction thereof, be subject to a fine of not less than $250 and not more than $500."

     SECTION 4.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on August 1, 2027.

 


 

Report Title:

DOT; Counties; Motor Vehicles; Shoulder Lanes; Registration; Expired Registration; Enforcement; Penalties; Out-of-State Motor Vehicles; High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes; Violations; Fines

 

Description:

Prohibits vehicles from driving on the shoulder of a roadway, except in certain circumstances.  Authorizes the Department of Transportation and county police departments to impound or cause to tow vehicles with expired registrations of three years or more after verifying the vehicle's registration status.  Allows the owner of an impounded or towed vehicle to recover the vehicle under certain conditions.  Exempts an owner of an impounded or towed vehicle from liability for any towing or storage charges if the vehicle was improperly impounded or towed.  Allows the owner of an impounded or towed vehicle to recover the vehicle without payment upon presenting the vehicle's current registration to the towing company.  Requires a towing company to allow a vehicle owner to enter the vehicle to obtain the vehicle's current registration.  Requires an annual report to the Legislature.  Increases the fine amount for owners of out-of-state motor vehicles who fail to register the vehicle in the State.  Establishes minimum and maximum statutory penalties for violations relating to the use of high occupancy vehicle lanes.  Effective 8/1/2027.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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