SR 146: requesting each county police department to increase enforcement against out-of-state vehicles operating on public roadways that have not been properly registered in the appropriate county.

SENATE RESOLUTION

requesting each county police department to increase enforcement against out-of-state vehicles operating on public roadways that have not been properly registered in the appropriate county.

     WHEREAS, existing law requires out-of-state vehicles to either register with the appropriate county or obtain a permit that allows out-of-state registration and license plate to remain valid until they expire; and

     WHEREAS, out-of-state vehicles that are not properly registered in Hawaii avoid contributing to the costs associated with maintaining public roadways, which creates an unfair burden on law-abiding residents; and

     WHEREAS, vehicles that fail to properly register may also pose risks related to vehicle inspections, insurance coverage, and overall safety standards, which can jeopardize the well-being of all residents and visitors using public roads; and

     WHEREAS, the Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu alone has experienced a thirty percent decrease in the number of out-of-state permits issued in Honolulu over the past four years; and

     WHEREAS, as a result, the City and County of Honolulu has been reminding motorists with out-of-state license plates that a permit is required to operate the vehicle in the State; and

     WHEREAS, the State has a vested interest in ensuring that all vehicles operating on public roadways are properly registered and comply with state and county regulations, including vehicle registration; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that each county police department is requested to increase enforcement against out-of-state vehicles operating on public roadways that have not been properly registered in the appropriate county; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chiefs of Police of each county.

Report Title: 

County Police Departments; Out-of-State Vehicles; Registration; Increased Enforcement

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1412

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 146

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 146 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING EACH COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT TO INCREASE ENFORCEMENT AGAINST OUT-OF-STATE VEHICLES OPERATING ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PROPERLY REGISTERED IN THE APPROPRIATE COUNTY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request each county police department to increase enforcement against out-of-state vehicles operating on public roadways that have not been properly registered in the appropriate county.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

     Your Committees find that existing law requires the owner of an out-of-state vehicle to either register their vehicle with the appropriate county or obtain a permit that allows the out-of-state registration and license plate to remain valid until they expire.  Your Committees note that out-of-state vehicles operating on public roadways avoid contributing to the costs associated with maintaining those public roadways and may also pose risks that can jeopardize the well-being of all those who use public roadways.  This measure seeks to ensure that all vehicles operating on public roadways comply with state and county regulations, including those relating to vehicle registration.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Safety and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 146 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Safety and Military Affairs,