SR 70: requesting the department of transportation and department of law enforcement to collaborate to establish a state highway police force.

SENATE RESOLUTION

requesting the department of transportation and department of law enforcement to collaborate to establish a state highway police force.

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's roadways have become increasingly dangerous, particularly during the previous year; and

     WHEREAS, an alarming increase in pedestrian and motorcycle fatalities, especially on Oahu, pushed the total number of deaths in 2025 on the State's roadways to 129, which is more than a twenty percent increase over the number of deaths in 2024 and the highest number since 2007; and

     WHEREAS, safety on Hawaii's roads could improve with greater enforcement of traffic laws and better transportation planning; and

     WHEREAS, county police departments are primarily responsible for enforcing traffic laws on the State's roadways; and

     WHEREAS, the establishment of a state highway police force could supplement the efforts of county police departments; and

     WHEREAS, collaboration between the Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement to establish a state highway police force has the potential to significantly improve traffic safety on Hawaii's roadways by combining expertise, resources, and enforcement authority to address traffic challenges more comprehensively and effectively; and

     WHEREAS, a state highway police force would allow for integrated strategies that blend transportation's emphasis on infrastructure and traffic management with law enforcement's focus on compliance and deterrence; and

     WHEREAS, a state highway police force could be specially trained and equipped to handle incidents on highways, ensuring rapid clearance of crashes and minimizing secondary accidents caused by congestion or confusion; 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 and Department of Law Enforcement are requested to collaborate to establish a state highway police force; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation and Director of Law Enforcement.

Report Title: 

Department of Transportation; Department of Law Enforcement; State Highway Police