STAND. COM. REP. NO. 438-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1510

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1510 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Condition the issuance of a certificate of inspection upon a vehicle not being equipped with any cover or shield installed over the license plate;

(2) Amend the penalty for obstruction of a license plate;

(3) Allow state or county parking enforcement officers to issue citations for vehicles with a cover or shield obstructing the license plate; and

(4) Repeal 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.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and one individual.

Your Committee finds that unobstructed license plates are essential for effective law enforcement, traffic safety, and the proper functioning of automated traffic enforcement systems. The use of covers or shields over license plates, regardless of transparency or intent, can impede the visibility and legibility of license plate information, undermining accountability and public safety. While existing law has proven difficult to enforce due to the requirement to demonstrate intent to obscure or interfere with identification, this measure strengthens enforcement mechanisms and promotes clearer vehicle identification statewide.

Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that any person authorized by a state or county law enforcement agency may issue citations for vehicles with a cover or shield obstructing the license plate.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1510, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1510, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

DARIUS KILA, Chair