HB 537: RELATING TO TWO-WHEELED MOTORIZED VEHICLES.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO TWO-WHEELED MOTORIZED VEHICLES.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that vehicular safety has significantly improved in recent decades.  Seatbelts have become mandatory, drivers cannot exceed a blood alcohol content of 0.08 while legally operating a vehicle, car seats and booster seats for children have become mandatory, and cell phone usage while driving has been restricted.  These changes have increased safety on our roads and survivability in the case of accidents.  While there was resistance to each of these safety measures, they have all become normalized and largely seen as necessary precautions to promote public safety.

     The legislature further finds that operators and passengers of two-wheeled motorized vehicles, like motorcycles, are particularly susceptible to injuries and fatalities, as they are fully exposed and lack the protections of cars and other vehicles.  One of the easiest methods to increase survivability and lower the chances of brain injury during a crash is to wear a helmet.  In cases involving crashes, national statistics show that motorcycle helmets are thirty-seven per cent and forty-one per cent effective in preventing deaths of operators and passengers respectively, and sixty-seven per cent effective at preventing head injuries.  The data clearly shows that wearing a helmet can save lives.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Repeal the exception for when a person is not required to wear a safety helmet when operating a moped or motor scooter leased from a rental company;

     (2)  Require all operators and passengers of motorcycles to wear safety helmets with securely fastened chin straps while operating or riding on a motorcycle on highways, streets, roadways, or any other public property in the State; and

     (3)  Require all renters or lessees of an electric foot scooter to wear a safety helmet regardless of their age.

     SECTION 2.  Section 286-81, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§286-81  Motorcycle, motor scooter, moped, etc.; protective devices.  (a)  No person shall operate a motorcycle or motor scooter, on any highway in the State unless the person and any passenger the person carries on the motorcycle or motor scooter wears:

     (1)  Safety glasses, goggles, or a face shield, in the case of a motorcycle or motor scooter that is not equipped with windscreens or windshields; and

     (2)  Any other protective devices, other than a safety helmet[,] for an operator or passenger of a motor scooter, required by rules adopted by the director.

For the purpose of meeting the requirements of this subsection, a required device shall meet the specifications and requirements established by rules adopted by the director.

     (b)  Notwithstanding subsection (a) and section 291C-195, no person shall operate a moped or motor scooter leased from a rental company on any roadway in the State unless the person wears a safety helmet, which shall be provided by the rental company unless the person provides the person's own safety helmet[; provided that this subsection shall not apply to persons who possess a valid license under this chapter to operate a motorcycle or an equivalent license issued from another state].  To meet the requirements of this subsection, the safety helmet shall meet the specifications and requirements established by rules adopted by the director.

     (c)  In addition to the requirements of subsection (b), no person shall lease or rent a motorcycle or motor scooter to another person unless the person furnishes:

     (1)  Safety glasses, goggles, or a face shield, in the case of a motorcycle or motor scooter that is not equipped with windscreens or windshields; and

     (2)  Any other protective devices required by the rules adopted by the director for the use of the person or persons intending to operate or ride as a passenger on the motorcycle or motor scooter; provided that any person to whom a motorcycle or motor scooter is leased or rented may furnish for the person's own use the protective devices required by this part.

For the purposes of meeting the requirements of this subsection, a required device shall meet the specifications and requirements established by rules adopted by the director.

     (d)  No person shall sell, offer for sale, or furnish any safety helmet, safety glasses, goggles, face shield, windscreen, windshield, or other protective devices represented to meet the requirements of this part unless the device meets the specifications and requirements established by rules adopted by the director.

     (e)  No person less than eighteen years of age shall operate or ride as a passenger on a [motorcycle or] motor scooter on any highway in the State unless the person wears a safety helmet securely fastened with a chin strap.

     (f)  No person shall operate or ride as a passenger on a motorcycle on any highway, street, roadway, or other public property in the State unless the person wears a safety helmet securely fastened with a chin strap that meets the specifications and requirements established by rules adopted by the director.

     [(f)] (g)  A safety helmet shall not be required for any person who operates or rides as a passenger on a [motorcycle or] motor scooter; provided that the [motorcycle or] motor scooter:

     (1)  Has three wheels;

     (2)  Is powered by an electric motor;

     (3)  Has a roll bar, roll cage, or full body enclosed cab; and

     (4)  Has a seat belt assembly or a child restraint system for the driver and passenger[;],

and the operator and passenger uses the seat belt or child restraint system pursuant to sections 291-11.5 and 291-11.6."

     SECTION 3.  Section 291C-139, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (j) to read as follows:

     "(j)  A person or entity that provides electric foot scooters for hire shall not rent or lease an electric foot scooter to any person unless:

     (1)  Each renter or lessee [that is under the age of sixteen] wears a safety helmet[, as required by subsection (d),] while operating the electric foot scooter; and

     (2)  Each renter or lessee is provided with a copy of the electric foot scooter ordinances or rules that have been adopted by the applicable county."

     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 July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Motorcycles; Moped and Motor Scooter Rentals; Electric Foot Scooter Rentals; Helmets

Description:

Repeals the exception for when a person is not required to wear a safety helmet when operating a moped or motor scooter leased from a rental company.  Requires operators and passengers of motorcycles to wear safety helmets with securely fastened chin straps while operating two-wheeled motorized vehicles on highways, streets, roadways, or any other public property in the State.  Requires all renters or lessees of an electric foot scooter to wear a safety helmet regardless of their age.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

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

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to two-wheeled motorIZED vehicles.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that vehicular safety has significantly improved in recent decades.  Seatbelts have become mandatory, drivers cannot exceed a blood alcohol content of 0.008 while legally operating a vehicle, car seats and booster seats for children have become mandatory, and cell phone usage while driving has been restricted.  These changes have increased safety on our roads and survivability in the case of accidents.  While there was resistance to each of these safety measures, they have all become normalized and largely seen as necessary precautions to promote public safety.

     The legislature further finds that operators and passengers two-wheeled motorized vehicles are particularly susceptible to injuries and fatalities, as they are fully exposed and lack the protections of cars and other vehicles.  One of the easiest methods to increase survivability and lower the chances of brain injury during a crash is to wear a helmet.  In cases involving crashes, national statistics show that motorcycle helmets are thirty-seven per cent and forty-one per cent effective in preventing deaths of operators and passengers respectively, and sixty-seven per cent effective at preventing head injuries.  The data clearly shows that wearing a helmet can save lives.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require all operators and passengers of two-wheeled motorized vehicles to wear safety helmets with securely fastened chin straps while operating or riding on two-wheeled motorized vehicles on highways, streets, roadways, or any other public property in the State.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 286, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§286-     Two-wheeled motorized vehicles; helmets.  (a)  All operators and passengers of two-wheeled motorized vehicles shall wear a safety helmet with a securely fastened chin strap that meets the specifications and requirements established by rules adopted by the director while operating two-wheeled motorized vehicles on highways, streets, roadways, or any other public property in the State.

     (b)  For the purposes of this section, "two-wheeled motorized vehicle" means any motor vehicle, moped, motor scooter, electric bicycle, electric foot scooter, or any other vehicle that is at least partially self-propelled, and has two wheels in contact with the ground."

     SECTION 3.  Section 286-81, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§286-81  Motorcycle, motor scooter, moped, etc.; protective devices.  (a)  No person shall operate a motorcycle or motor scooter, on any highway in the State unless the person and any passenger the person carries on the motorcycle or motor scooter wears:

     (1)  Safety glasses, goggles, or a face shield, in the case of a motorcycle or motor scooter that is not equipped with windscreens or windshields; and

     (2)  Any other protective devices [, other than a safety helmet,] required by law or rules adopted by the director.

For the purpose of meeting the requirements of this subsection, a required device shall meet the specifications and requirements established by rules adopted by the director.

     (b)  Notwithstanding subsection (a) and section 291C-195, no person shall operate a moped or motor scooter leased from a rental company on any roadway in the State unless the person wears a safety helmet, which shall be provided by the rental company unless the person provides the person's own safety helmet [; provided that this subsection shall not apply to persons who possess a valid license under this chapter to operate a motorcycle or an equivalent license issued from another state].  To meet the requirements of this subsection, the safety helmet shall meet the specifications and requirements established by rules adopted by the director.

     (c)  In addition to the requirements of subsection (b), no person shall lease or rent a motorcycle or motor scooter to another person unless the person furnishes:

     (1)  Safety glasses, goggles, or a face shield, in the case of a motorcycle or motor scooter that is not equipped with windscreens or windshields; and

     (2)  Any other protective devices required by the rules adopted by the director for the use of the person or persons intending to operate or ride as a passenger on the motorcycle or motor scooter; provided that any person to whom a motorcycle or motor scooter is leased or rented may furnish for the person's own use the protective devices required by this part.

For the purposes of meeting the requirements of this subsection, a required device shall meet the specifications and requirements established by rules adopted by the director.

     (d)  No person shall sell, offer for sale, or furnish any safety helmet, safety glasses, goggles, face shield, windscreen, windshield, or other protective devices represented to meet the requirements of this part unless the device meets the specifications and requirements established by rules adopted by the director.

     [(e)  No person less than eighteen years of age shall operate or ride as a passenger on a motorcycle or motor scooter on any highway in the State unless the person wears a safety helmet securely fastened with a chin strap.

     (f)] (e)  A safety helmet shall not be required for any person who operates or rides as a passenger on a motorcycle or motor scooter; provided that the motorcycle or motor scooter:

     (1)  Has three wheels;

     (2)  Is powered by an electric motor;

     (3)  Has a roll bar, roll cage, or full body enclosed cab; and

     (4)  Has a seat belt assembly or a child restraint system for the driver and passenger;

and the operator and passenger uses the seat belt or child restraint system pursuant to sections 291-11.5 and 291-11.6."

     SECTION 4.  Section 291C-139, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending (d) to read:

     "(d)  No person under fifteen years of age shall operate an electric foot scooter on a highway, street, roadway, or any other public property in the State.  [No person under sixteen years of age shall operate an electric foot scooter unless the person wears a safety helmet securely fastened with a chin strap.  The safety helmet shall meet the specifications of and requirements for a bicycle helmet as set out in section 291C-150.]"

     2.  By amending subsection (j) to read:

     "(j)  A person or entity that provides electric foot scooters for hire shall not rent or lease an electric foot scooter to any person unless:

     (1)  Each renter or lessee [that is under the age of sixteen] wears a safety helmet [, as required by subsection (d),] while operating the electric foot scooter; and

     (2)  Each renter or lessee is provided with a copy of the electric foot scooter ordinances or rules that have been adopted by the applicable county."

     SECTION 5.  Section 291C-195, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Notwithstanding section 286-81(b), no person [:

     (1)  Less] less than fifteen years of age shall drive a moped on a highway, street, roadway, or any other public property in the State [; and

     (2)  Less than eighteen years of age shall drive a moped unless the person wears a safety helmet securely fastened with a chin strap.

The safety helmet shall meet the specifications and requirements established by rules adopted by the director]."

     SECTION 6.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 7.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 8.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Two-wheeled Motorized Vehicle; Moped; Motor Scooter; Bicycle; Electric Foot Scooter; Helmet

Description:

Requires all operators and passengers of two-wheeled motorized vehicles to wear safety helmets with securely fastened chin straps while operating two-wheeled motorized vehicles on highways, streets, roadways, or any other public property in the State.  Defines "two-wheeled motorized vehicles".

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  508

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 537

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 537 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TWO-WHEELED MOTORIZED VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require all operators and passengers of two-wheeled motorized vehicles to wear safety helmets with securely fastened chin straps when on highways, streets, roadways, or any other public property in the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; AAA Hawaiʻi; and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that despite advancements in vehicle safety, operators and passengers of two-wheeled motorized vehicles remain particularly vulnerable to severe injuries and fatalities due to their lack of protective barriers.  Existing laws do not adequately address this heightened risk, leading to preventable deaths and life-altering head injuries.  Your Committee further finds that studies consistently demonstrate the effectiveness of helmets in reducing fatalities and preventing head injuries.

     Your Committee notes that a blanket helmet requirement affecting multiple two-wheeled motorized vehicles may not be necessary.  Your Committee does, however, recognize the importance of requiring helmets for motorcycles.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting language that would have required all operators and passengers of two-wheeled motorized vehicles to wear certain safety helmets and all associated language, while maintaining:

          (A)  Language that repeals the exception for when a person is not required to wear a safety helmet when operating a moped or motor scooter leased from a rental company;

          (B)  The helmet requirement for operators and passengers of motorcycles; and

          (C)  Language that prohibits the rental or leasing of an electric foot scooter to a person unless they wear a safety helmet;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; 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 Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 537, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 537, 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,