Bills

SR 137: requesting the department of transportation to convene a task force to evaluate whether the state should implement a demerit point system for traffic violations.

Session Year: 2025-2026
House: Senate
Latest Version Date: 2026-03-16

Current Status:

In Progress

(2026-04-08: One Day Notice 04-09-26.)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Final Decking

Enacted

What does this bill do?

Asks the Department of Transportation to form a task force to study whether Hawaii should use a demerit point system for traffic violations, where drivers get points for offenses that can lead to penalties or license suspension. The task force would include state and county transportation officials and each county’s police chief or deputy.

Version:

requesting the department of transportation to convene a task force to evaluate whether the state should implement a demerit point system for traffic violations.

Version:

SR137

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	137
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

requesting the department of transportation to convene a task force to evaluate whether the state should implement a demerit point system for traffic violations.

WHEREAS, safe and responsible driving is essential to the lives, health, and safety of residents of the State; and

WHEREAS, the State has experienced a significant increase in traffic incidences involving bodily injury or death on its roads; and

WHEREAS, many of the traffic incidents that involved serious bodily injury or death were hit and runs and the driver that caused the accident abandoned the scene without rendering aid or sharing pertinent information; and

WHEREAS, many states and counties have implemented a demerit point system for traffic violations that have resulted in reduced recidivism and repeat offenses; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Transportation is requested to convene a task force to evaluate whether the State should implement a demerit point system for traffic violations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to consist of the following members:

(1) The Director of Transportation or their designee;

(2) The Director of the Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu or their designee;

(3) The Mass Transit Administrator of the County of Hawaii;

(4) The Executive on Transportation of the County of Kauai or their designee;

(5) The Director of Transportation of the County of Maui or their designee; and

(6) The Chief of Police or Deputy Chief of Police of each county; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to submit a report to the Legislature of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed Legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2028; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation, Director of the Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu, Mass Transit Administrator of the County of Hawaii, Executive on Transportation of the County of Kauai, Director of Transportation of the County of Maui, and the Chief of Police of each county.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Department of Transportation; Task Force; Demerit System

Date	Status
Apr 8, 2026	One Day Notice 04-09-26.
Apr 8, 2026	Reported from TRS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3476) with recommendation of adoption.
Mar 24, 2026	The committee(s) on TRS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in TRS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha, Lee, C., DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
Mar 20, 2026	The committee(s) on TRS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-24-26 3:02PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
Mar 19, 2026	Referred to TRS.
Mar 16, 2026	Offered.

Date	Description	Location	Votes
Mar 24, 2026	The committee(s) on TRS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED	Senate Standing Committee on Transportation	5 0 0 Passed