House Standing Committee on Transportation

Convening our 9:15am agenda for the three measures before us. For the purpose of decision making for these three measures, we'll be rolling them to the end of our 9:30am agenda as scheduled. Recess.

Morning. Good meeting our 9:30am agenda here in the Hawaii State Capitol on February 17th at 9:30am for the purpose of the House Committee of Transportation for the measures before us today.

I just want to thank our support staff that was working yesterday even though they were off to make sure we can continue to have robust dialogue here at the Legislature and to my staff as well. So for our first measure before us is HB2347 relating to vehicle safety.

Requires the Director of Transportation to adopt rules allowing for mobile vehicle safety inspections. Vice chair for the testimony.

Department of Transportation with comments, Nicolas Wong in support.

Morning, Chair. Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. My name is Nicolas Wong in support of this Bill and again, really just kind of in our mind it's just a common sense Bill just to give a little more options for safety inspections. Right now they're tied to the actual physical location of the inspection.

I think now we have the tablets that, you know, mobile data and we're able to do things a little bit more efficiently. Also, I think from the Senate Bill side, they do have the amendments that this Bill is intended just for passenger vehicles, not like the big trucks and commercial vehicles on that side. So thank you.

Appreciate you guys time and thanks again.

Thank you. Kenneth Shiu in support.

Hi, good morning. Chair Rice, Chair and Members of the Committee. I'm just here just to voice my support for this Bill. I think it's going to be really good for Hawaii State drivers to help alleviate some of the stresses involved with trying to get a safety check done.

At a physical location and giving them the option to do it at their home anywhere else where the most convenient. For them would help save time, reduce stress for drivers, give them time to spend with family or to do more productive things rather than just waiting in line, getting denied and then coming back, you know.

So yeah, just want to voice my support. Thank you.

Thank you. We also got three individuals in support. Anyone else online or in person wishing to testify on HB2347? Seeing none Chair.

Thank you Members, any questions?

Simple question for either one of you. Yeah. So as I understand you guys support doing your safety check at home in your driveway.

Yes.

As a vehicle shop owner, repair shop owner who does safety checks. You know, we're required to have a level cement driveway with headlight aimers. How would you guys how would you guys have somebody check their headlights at home?

Yes. I think it's really going to be, again, a little bit of a, I want to say a learning curve, but again, there's going to be a little bit of different things where it's not so much as, hey, driving to the shop with a flat level ground.

And so it's going to be, hey, the car needs to be moved to a flat level area. Right. The inspector is going to have to have the things with them to either, hey, again, if they do actually want to lift the car, have the things to lift the car, have the things to check the headlights.

And again, it's going to be a little bit more of a, you know, agreement between, you know, whoever is the owner of the inspection place and the person getting their car inspected to be able to actually like, hey, I need your keys. We have to move it to this flat area. We can do it here.

If your garage is flat, hey, we can do it here. There's going to be a little bit more of a, you know, liability side of that that's going to be figured out by the companies. But again, it's not going to be, hey, we're backwards on a hill. We're all going to go side check.

And again, you know, this is still going to be tied in my mind to another entity which is, you know, the Director is able to hold accountable if these inspections, inspections are not being performed up to standard. Yeah.

So next question, Chair. Are you okay with giving up convenience for added cost?

I mean, in my mind, yes, it would be. There has to be some type of convenience cost for that inspector to drive there. Right. You know, to check everything and figure it out. And again, the person might be in a condo way up high and they have to go get the keys, come down.

You know, there is a convenience side that does need to be figured out and, you know, kind of with the market to be figured out where that even lands.

So right now, safety check for a passenger vehicle costs 20, $25 plus tax. Depends on where you go. What do you think would be a fair price or what do you think would be a fair number? Or we could cap that because, I mean, we're going from 25 to.

I would suggest, or, excuse me, not suggest, I would guess somewhere in the area of upwards of 100 bucks.

Yeah, I mean, again, I think that it would just kind of leave it to the market side of it where if it's like, hey, if the guy named, you know, the inspector is in town and he needs to drive all the way to the west side. Something.

I would expect that that would be a significant cost to that as opposed to, hey, he needs to drive, you know, just downtown next door or something and he can grab a bunch of cars. Then you know there's a different price for that, I think.

Yeah, really just kind of letting that market kind of figure that self out again. And then there always still option of again going to the shop. Right. And getting it done the regular way. Right.

All right. Thank you.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you. Is anybody from Department of Transportation available for a question online?

Yes, Chair, I'm here.

Deputy Shishido. You know, I have a question. So regarding your safety check process. You folks, it's $5 is the administrative fee and then the 20 shot. $20 is for the shop, is that what it's at?

I'm not sure the exact breakdown, but I know we recently increased it a little bit because when a new contract started there was some additional costs from the previous. I think we go by five year contracts. So there was some additional administrative. But I'm not exactly sure if the breakdown.

Can you follow up with me and I can let the Committee know? Okay, please. And then my next question. When you folks are going through the different stores or shops that administer the safety checks, how do you folks audit the shop?

I think we go through their records, we inspect their shop, make sure they have the appropriate equipment. I can follow up with our motor. Vehicle safety office, get there if that's possible.

Because I think I know majority right of our safety check process. Because I also understand, right. That the vehicle taken to the safety check can be very much amended after for the purpose of that would then no longer be compliant with the road. But I think there's like an.

Often there's this complaint or folks know which operators scapegoat the safety check process to give the safety check. So I just, I'm curious about that. So if you're able to follow up on that process and then the fee, I can just share that with the Committee, please.

Okay, will do.

Okay, thank you Deputy. Members, any further questions?

Seeing none, I'd like to move on to our next agenda item before us. HB 1882 relating to motor vehicles exempts motorcycles and passenger cars from safety inspections. Vice Chair for testimony.

Department of Transportation in opposition on zoom.

Hi, good morning Chair, Vice Chair. Robin Shishido with HDOT we standby our submitted testimony in opposition. Thank you.

Hawaii Police Department in opposition. City and county of Honolulu Department of Customer Services in opposition. Grassroots Institute of Hawaii in support. And. One individual in opposition. Anyone online or in person wishing to testify on HB 1882.

Thank you, Members. Any questions? Seeing none. Let's move on to our next agenda item, HB 2022, relating to motor vehicle registration. Specifies that the county annual vehicle registration fee is equal to the state annual motor vehicle registration fee. Vice Chair for testimony.

Hawaii Transportation Association in opposition on Zoom.

I'm Tina Yamaki with the Hawaii Transportation Association. And we respectfully oppose this measure only because it is going to increase cost to not only our businesses, who are going to pass it on to our customers, who are the warehouses and retailers, who are probably going to pass it on to the customers, making goods in Hawaii even more expensive. Mahalo.

Thank you. Tax Foundation of Hawaii with comments on Zoom. Not present. Anyone online or in person wishing to testify on HB 2022?

HB 2086, relating to highway safety. Amends the offense of negligent injury in the first degree to include injuries negligently inflicted by intoxicated drivers. Vice Chair for testimony.

Department of Transportation in support.

Robin again. HDOT stands by our submitted testimony in strong support. Thank you.

Thank you. Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization in support. County of Hawaii Police Department in support. County of Hawaii Office of the Prosecuting Attorney in support. County of Maui Department of the Prosecuting Attorney in support. City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney in support.

Good morning, Chair Kila, Vice Chair Miyake, Members of the Committee. Daniel Hugo for the Honolulu Prosecutor's Office. And we stand in strong support of this bill. I will just note that the we appreciate the support from the Maui Prosecutor's Office.

However, we would recommend against the HD 1 that was attached. We believe that the current scheme or the current drafting of the bill which would allow a negligent injury to remain a lesser included offense of negligent homicide will mean that, in negligent homicide cases, there is a likelihood that somebody will get a conviction as opposed to completely walking.

The OVUII statute has its pros and cons, but we don't believe that it should be melded with the negligent homicide and negligent injury statutes, which are a completely separate statutory scheme. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone online or in person wishing to testify on HB 2086?

Thank you Members. Any questions? Seeing none, we can move on to our next agenda item, HB 2154, relating to traffic safety. Establishes a framework for the use of intelligence Speed assistant technology probitual speeders. Requires a report to the Legislature. Vice Chair for testimony.

Department of Transportation in support.

Yeah, Rob again from HDOT standby our submitted testimony in support.

Thank you. Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization in support. County of Kauai Police Department in support. Smart Start LLC in support. Alliance for Automobile Innovation with comments

We stand on our written testimony with comments to support and offer proposed amendments. Thank you.

Thank you. AAA Hawaii in support. Chad Taniguchi in support on zoom.

Hi, can you hear me?

Yes.

Oh, thank you. As a person who bikes a lot and really support this because as you guys all know, people can't control their speed. Sorry, a minority of people can't control their speed. So those people who can't, let's put in a device that doesn't allow them to accelerate beyond the speed limit.

And there are other people who have lost family members to speed and traffic violence. They're not testifying right now, but I'm working to get them to the point where they will testify. They want to testify. It's just a matter of making the time for the legislative process.

So thank you to all the people who testified and thanks to this Committee for passing this out. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Taniguchi. Anyone online or in person wishing to testify on HB2154.

Thank you, Members. Any questions? Seeing none. Move on to the next agenda item before us, HB 2027, related to transportation. Prohibits vehicles from driving on the shoulder of a roadway except in certain certain circumstances.

Authorize the Department of Transportation and county police departments to impound vehicles that expire registrations at three years or more. Seize and dispose of vehicles that expire registration five years or more under certain conditions. Requires annual reporting to the Legislature.

Increases the fine for amount for out of owners out of state motor vehicles who fail to register a vehicle in the state. Establishes minimum statutory penalties for violations relating to the use of high occupancy vehicle lanes. Vice Chair for testimony.

Department of Transportation in support.

Yep, Robin with HDOT. Stand by our written testimony in support. Thank you.

Thank you. Attorney General's Office with comments.

Thank you. Good morning, Chair Kila, Vice Chair Miyake, and Members of the Committee. Michael Moriyama, Deputy Attorney General. The Department of the Attorney General has several concerns regarding the specific process of impounding and seizing unregistered vehicles and the related issues of constitutionality, both of which could affect the enforcement of the bill's current drafted.

So currently the bill treats impoundment of vehicles differently from the seizure of vehicles. The department feels that the distinction between impoundment and seizure is unnecessary and recommends that the distinction be eliminated and the bill be amended to allow for the impoundment of vehicles.

To address the issues of how a vehicle is to be impounded, the department recommends that once a vehicle's registration status is verified by the appropriate government agency, a law enforcement officer can then order the vehicle to be towed pursuant to HRS 29011.

And HRS 29011B through I provides a specific process as to how vehicles are to be towed, specific towing and storage charges that can be assessed, how notice of impoundment and towing will be made and to whom the notice will be provided, how vehicles can be recovered by the owners, and how unclaimed vehicles can be disposed of.

Impounding and the subsequent towing of vehicles done pursuant to HRS 29011 addresses the constitutional issues of adequate and proper notice, due process, and the government taking private property. Thank you very much for the opportunity to testify.

I want to thank you for not just opposing the bill and not giving us a solution path forward. So thank you to the department for helping us find the path forward.

Thank you. State of Hawaii Judiciary with comments. City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services with comments, and one individual with comments. Anyone online or in person wishing to testify on HB 2027?

Members, any questions? Rep La Chica.

For Department of Transportation, please. What is the current process right now for what the department can do in terms of enforcing this on expired registration?

I mean it's only at the PMDI where we have... I mean we don't have any out there, you know, but it's something we would work with the PDs and DLE to go and enforce.

This is data that the department currently collects, like how much we could be, I guess, collecting in terms of penalties or fines?

Yeah, I think we do have record. We can get it from the DMVs on, you know, expired.

But right now the department does not have the authority to impound vehicles for expired registration?

No. Not that I'm aware.

Thank you. Thank you, Director.

Anything else? Members, any other questions? Thank you, Deputy. Seeing none. Move on to your next agenda item before us.

HB 2025 relating to law enforcement for its digital navigation applications from providing an alert indication or other type of notice of the pres for the user's presence of law enforcement for service or law enforcement operation at a specific location. Vice Chair for the testimony.

Attorney General's Office with comments.

Good morning Chair Kila Members of the Committee. My name is Melina Sanchez I'm a Deputy Attorney General providing comments for HB 2025. The Department has two concerns regarding this Bill.

The first concern is that this Bill raises First Amendment concerns under both the US and Hawaii Constitution because the court may find that it regulates speech based on its content. The content that this Bill is trying to regulate is prohibiting alerts specifically for law enforcement presence.

Although it appears that the purpose of the Bill is to prevent evasion or interference with law enforcement activities, it is not clear if prohibiting alerts specifically to their presence would be narrowly tailored or the least restrictive means to achieve that purpose. Second is the enforcement of this Bill.

It would be a significant challenge because alerts are generated in real time and may be based on users generated reports or automated data inputs. So monitoring, compliance and identifying violators would be administratively challenging. Given these constitutional and practical concerns, the Department respectfully recommends that the Committee hold this Bill. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. Thank you.

Thank you. We got one individual in opposition. Anyone online or in person wishing to testify on HB2025.

Members. Any questions? I just want to ask the AGs if you guys can. No, no you don't. It's not a question. Can you just stay for decision-making and then? Thank you.

Okay, moving on to our next agenda item before HB 1620 relating to energy increases environmental energy, environmental response energy and food security tax in the amount collected from that tax and is this deposited into electrical vehicle charging system sub account transfers funds from the hydrogen fueling system sub account to the electric vehicle charging system sub account effective 7-1-3000. Vice Chair for the testimony.

Department of Taxation with comments. Thank you. Attorney General's Office with comments.

Good morning Chair Kila and Members of the Committee. My name is Janine Udui. I'm a Deputy Attorney General on behalf of the Department of the Attorney General.

The Department noted a potential issue in Section three of this Bill which transfers funds to between sub accounts which in within the same special fund but doesn't identify which agency will execute the transfer or the date when the movement of money is to occur. The Department has suggested amendments that will address the issue. Thank you. I'm available for questions.

Thank you. Public Utilities Commission in support.

I guess we're going to change.

Thank you. Hawaii State Energy Office with comments.

Chris Yunker for the Hawaii State Energy Office. We stand on our written testimony providing comments and are available for questions. Thank you.

Thank you. Tax Foundation of Hawaii with comments.

Good morning. Chair Vice Chair Members of the Committee Tom Yamachika from Tax Foundation we have some concerns from a technical perspective as well as policy perspective. We note that the Bill imposes this tax on petroleum products, but it does not impose the same increase on non petroleum fossil fuels, which is a different subsection of the particular section.

We have concerns generally with earmarking tax revenues for special funds because that leaves the Legislature less in control of how those funds are deployed. And you know, I believe the electorate is relying on the Legislature to make those tough decisions and not have them done for you by special funds.

We also are concerned that there are blanks in the Bill for important pieces of data and we would recommend that those be filled in before this Bill is moved forward. If it's, if it's moved forward. Happy to answer your questions. Thank you so much for the opportunity.

Thank you. Carbon Cashback Hawaii in support. Kauai Climate Action Coalition in support. Earth Justice in support, not present. Our Children's Trust in Support.

Aloha Chair Vice Chair Members of the Committee, Doorae Shin with Our Children's Trust in strong support of HB 1620. As I shared with this Committee before, we are one of the organizations that was behind the Navajini Settlement.

Because the Navajini Settlement is port in force, the Legislature now shares responsibility for ensuring that Hawaii meets its legally blinding climate obligations. This Bill addresses one of the most significant barriers to electric vehicle adoption, which is the lack of accessible, affordable and reliable charging infrastructure. Electric vehicle ownership is significantly cheaper.

It offers substantial savings and transportation is one of the largest household expenses for Hawaii families. And families that aren't able to drive electric can't access those savings and one of those barriers is because of the lack of reliable charging infrastructure, especially for families who do not live in single family homes.

So those are some of the reasons we strongly support this Bill and we appreciate you considering our testimony.

Thank you. 350 Hawaii in support, Climate Protectors Hawaii in support, Hawaii EV association in support, Grassroots Institute in opposition. We also received 22 testimonies by individuals in support. Anyone online or in person wishing to testify on HB 1620.

Aloha. I'm Marti Townsend with Earth Justice, here to offer testimony in support. You have a written testimony. I think this is an excellent opportunity to help Hawaii catch up in terms of improving our EV charging infrastructure and we can continue to improve the Bill as it moves through the legislative process.

We just ask you all to keep the conversation going because we have a lot of work to do to get us off of thank you very much.

Thank you. Anyone else online or in person wishing to testify on HB 1620 HD1?

Thank you. Thank you Members, Any questions? Thank you. Next Last Agenda Item H3 2179 regarding the transportation requires rather than authorizes Department of Education to develop and administer a traffic safety program. Requires Department of Education Traffic Safety Education program to include electric bicycles effective 7-1-3000. Vice Chair for testimony.

Department of Education with comments, not present. Department of Health with comments.

Standby our written testimony available for questions. Thank you.

Thank you. Hawaii Bicycling League in support. Hawaii Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians in support. Hawaii Path in support. Jonathan Lott, Individual in support.

As a former teacher and car free pedestrian and cyclist and transit user, I see the wild west with these kids. That don't really know the rules of the road and I think if the state can align with the city in county and enforcement can begin. That's all I have.

Thank you Mr. Lott. We received 13 individual in support testimonies from 13 individuals in support and one in opposition. Anyone online or in person wishing to testify on HB2179 HD1.

Membes, any questions? Okay, Members like to recess.

Thank you, Members. Okay, just. I want to start with our first 9:15 am agenda. We'll vote these measures out that were previously heard last week. So, Members, for. Sorry, this is the wrong one. Asking yourself. This is HB 1884. I'd like to adopt the HD one for this one. I want to adopt DOT's recommended testimony.

And because their testimony doesn't require technically an appropriation, like the delete the appropriation reference in HB 1884, I request the dismissal to effect the defective date and tech amendments for clarity, consistency and style. Members, any question? I mean comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote.

[Roll Call]

Thank you, Members. Our next one, HB 1523. I'd like to adopt the HD 1 for this one and have HMS defect the effective date. Members, any questions, comments, concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote.

Voting on HB 1523. The recommendation is to pass with amendments. Noting the excused absence of Representative Cochran and Representative Pierick. Any reservations? Reservations for Representative Muraoka. Any no votes? The recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Members. HB 2186 related to insurance safety. Same thing. Adopt the HD1 defect defective date. Members, questions, comments or concerns?

Voting on HB 2186, the recommendation is to pass with amendments. Any reservations? Any no votes? The recommendation is adopted.

The recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Okay, Members, moving on to our 9:30am agenda, I will start with HB 2347 relating to vehicle safety. Members, for this I'd like to adopt an HD one. And for this I'm going to take several changes.

I want to authorize that DOT shall implement a pilot program with one participating operator each county on each island. Authorize DOT the Department to appoint up to three inspectors to support the pilot program. Include a mandatory sunset four years after the effective date unless extended or repealed by legislation.

Establish the effective date of 120 days after enacting or upon approval, if an earlier effective date is desired. HMS will defect the effective date and the tech amendments for clarity, consistency in style. Clarify that this is applicable only for passenger cars and also add that DOT can raise the price for the purpose of a mobile vehicle inspection.

Members, questions, comments or concerns? Vice Chair for the vote, please.

Voting on HB 2347, the recommendation is to pass with amendments. Any reservations? Reservations for Rep. Muraoka. Any no votes? Seeing none. The recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Members. HB 1882 related motor vehicles like to adopt an HD one. For this one add a conforming amendment to 291-36 HMS will defect the effective date and it sets the effective date of one year after the date of enactment.

I know DOT has concerns and I actually am a strong supporter of our safety check system but I think this is a good conversation to have and if the next Committee should choose so. Members, questions, comments or concerns? Vice Chair for the vote, please.

Voting on HB 1882 the recommendation is to pass with amendments. Any reservations? Any no votes? Seeing none, the recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Members, for our next one HB 2022, related to motor vehicle registration. I'd like to adopt an HD1. So I want to clarify for this one that any county-imposed vehicle registration or weight tax shall not exceed the amount of the comparable state weight tax.

Requires each county to submit an annual report to the Legislature detailing the revenues collected under the section. The current fund balances and expenditures made from those funds requires that not less than of county revenues collected under this section be expended for roadway repair or maintenance. HMS will defect the effective date tech amendments for clarity, consistency and style.

Members, questions, comments or concerns? So I just want to add the reason I introduced this measure was over the interim I had asked DOT to work with the counties on providing the information of their revenues. This is collected at the registration and tax and I for full transparency.

I was not satisfied with one of the county submittals where there was no clear expenditure for the purpose of repair and maintenance and they floated 54% of their collection to debt service for infrastructure projects.

And I understand the need to expand but my biggest complaint that our office receives every day is the status of roads that particularly our county roads and other than that I think most counties can justify their expenses but I think for the sake of understanding that we the Legislature allow the taxation I think there needs to be some reporting and also some accountability to how that is expended.

So that is the reason I made those several different amendments. Any other further questions, comments, or concerns? Okay, Vice Chair for the vote, please.

Voting on HB 2022, the recommendation is to pass both amendments. Any reservations? Any no votes? Seeing none, Chair, the recommendation is adopted.

Thank you Members. HB 1708 related to traffic safety I want to thank a prosecutor for proposing the measure.

We actually worked on it but given the loads of that was introduced, I had asked Representative Lee Loy to introduce it, and I thought it was appropriate, given the incident where a doctor had died this holiday season on Hawaii island, that they could take up a measure like this.

I think, as I said in our line of questioning, this continues to be a problem in our communities and I don't even think it's a secret that both myself and Rep. Muraoka for as much as our community witnesses some tragic events, they still continue to break the law and I applaud the different folks of trying to find a different path forward to make this more effective because obviously what we're doing, people still don't care.

So for that for HB 1708 I want to just adopt the proposed HD one that was put forth by Hawaii Island Prosecutor Walton Tech amendments for clarity, consistency, style, and HMSO to affect the effective date. Members, questions, comments, or concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote, please.

Voting on HB 1708 the recommendation is subject to passed with amendments. Any reservations? Any no votes? The recommendation is adopted.

Thank you Members. HB2086 relating highway safety HD1 would like to adopt the HD one. I was going to adopt Maui County's testimony but given the prosecutor's concerns, I will leave it as so and HMSO to effect the effective date.

The tech amendments for clarity, consistency, style. And I want to thank the prosecutor for trying to put forth measures to continue to make our road safer and this is something I believe should we get to the finish line we could have a significant impact on public. Members questions, comments or concerns. Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote, please.

Please voting on HB 2086 the recommendation is to pass with amendments. Any reservations? Any no votes? The recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Members. HB 2154, relating to traffic safety. I'd like to adopt HD 1. Tech amendments for clarity, consistency, and style. Adopt the requested amendments put forth by Smart Start, SanHi, and AAA. HMS will defect the effective date.

This is similar to another measure we had heard previously in the committee, but also different in nature. But I think can subsequently marry and make the other bill we passed that much more effective. So that is my recommendation. Members, questions, comments, or concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote please.

Voting on HB 2154. The recommendation is to pass with amendments. Any reservations? Any no votes? The recommendation is adopted.

Thank you Members. HB 2027 related to transportation this is one of the on the bus bills that we worked with DOT to put forth obviously because they were limited but also as we talked over the interim the different things that we face.

So if I can go through different parts of the Bill the need for the prohibiting of vehicles driving on the shoulder of a roadway. DOT sets the rulemaking for this measure, but it's not necessarily carved out. Our shoulder lanes are meant for the purpose of morning traffic and afternoon traffic to add another lane.

But other than that it's for emergencies only. Unfortunately, folks have often break this law. So this would codify an offense for that. For the purpose of DOT and county police departments to impound vehicles with expired registrations.

I want to thank the Attorney Generals for putting forth comments and recommendations and finding a way for us to see this Bill forward. In order for the effectiveness of, I think not just registration, but our safety light programs that we've implemented, it is imperative upon registration to be enforced.

So in the same way that I'm authorizing or putting forth this Bill, I'm also capping forth the registration cost that we had just adopted in a previous measure. I think when you look at all the folks that I can understand one year, I can understand two years.

But there are often times you're seeing several years and most people are compliant with the program vehicle registration. But I think our worst fear scenario that has occurred is that you get into an accident or somebody does a hit and run.

When the vehicle has expired registration, those information is no longer relevant, thus making it that much harder to locate the individual that committed that offense or potential crime. So that is also my reason for asking DOT to have the authority to move this forward.

Because again, for these things to work, we have to put some teeth behind it. The increasing of the out of state vehicle fines. So we're adding a new section. It's actually not written in HRS as we found out. In the interim, as you see a proliferation of out of state vehicles that come into our state.

If we're asking folks to register their vehicles, I look at those cars as not being compliant with our systems. There is a process for you to receive an out of state vehicle permit, but folks are obviously not following that law.

So putting this forward would allow us to codify a way for the Police Department to start finding these folks accordingly. And establishing the minimum statutory penalties for HOV. We currently have it at a maximum of 250. I will be making the minimum 250. In order for these systems, I think to work the way they are intended.

The fines also have to match that as well. California's minimum fine for HIV violation is 350. So I definitely feel like 250. 250 is not out of the Committee scope. So with that, Members like to adopt the HD one for this one.

I want to authorize any enforcement to be done by a law enforcement officer DOT and approved any law enforcement officer DOT any approved person, contractor or government agency designed to carry out towing enforcement.

As this statute carves out, I want to incorporate the amendments requested by the Department of Attorney General for Section 28661 establish a minimum 5 of fine $500 and a maximum fine of $1,000 for the Section 1 minimum fine of 250 and a maximum 1,000 and the violation for the improper shoulder use shall be applicable in a period of five years, not one and then just clarifying the minimum fine for hov violation is 250 and then the maximum you can blank out and leave determined for further discussion.

Members, questions, comments or concerns seeing that. Oh Rep. Evslin.

Just a quick comment, Chair, I appreciate this measure. I appreciate the work that you're doing. I appreciate the need for more and better enforcement.

But I will say as a neighbor island driver who is largely, you know, didn't grow up driving on highways in Honolulu, it can get very confusing knowing when you are allowed to go in these various lanes, including the carpool lanes.

I do the drive from the airport to the Capitol very regularly and there's a carpool lane there and a shoulder lane there. I see people sort of arbitrarily using both and I got no idea what's going on.

So my only request is, you know, going forward if this is to pass into law and there is more enforcement to maybe ensure like just really adequate or better signage around these areas to help those neighbor island drivers like me know what's going on.

Neighbor island and our rural communities that are visiting as well and even I think our out of state visitors. So if I could just request an in the Committee report for DOT to consider better signage as this discussion moves forward. The next Committee Judiciary but I agree I would definitely welcome more signage.

So I take your point very much so. Members, any other questions, comments, or concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote, please.

Voting on HB 2027. The recommendation is to pass with amendments. Any reservations? Any no votes. The recommendation is adopted.

The recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Members. HB 2025, relating to law enforcement. I appreciate the Attorney General's comments. I put this bill forward because I think as we talk about traffic safety is imperative upon law enforcement being able to carry out their job without the purposes of obviously being alerted where these folks are.

I don't want this to conflict with federal things that you are seeing. The intent is that when we have DUI checkpoints, when we have law enforcement officers doing enforcement, I think it is imperative upon the effectiveness of that program to operate under a guise of...

I don't want to say some being hidden, but I think it plays into it. Because it's not just on social media. You see this occur where folks are tipping people off. There used to be this proliferation of Facebook pages for people to tell folks where different law enforcement people were at.

There are apps that tell you where they are and you can pretty much avoid detection. That's not the intent. I just trying to find a way to make it better. So my recommendation is I'm going to defer this measure.

But I would just ask the Attorney General's Office if there's a path forward that we can find in the interim of this discussion to find a way for us not to violate the Constitution but still give safeguards and protections to our law enforcement officers to carry out their jobs effectively. So that is my recommendation.

Members, questions, comments, concerns? Okay, moving on to our next agenda item, HB 1620, relating to energy. Members, like to adopt the HD 2 for this measure. I'm going to obviously still a defective date. But I'm going to incorporate the amendments as put forth by the Attorney General. HD 2, 1620. Members, questions, comments, concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote.

Voting on HB 1620, HD 1. The recommendation is pass with amendment.

Oh, sorry, I just need to clarify. I did get... Sorry. Thank you. I did get prior concurrence for the amendments. Sorry.

Sorry, Chair. Voting on HB 1620, HD 1. The recommendation is to pass with amendments. Noting the presence of Representative Pierick. Are there any reservation? Any no votes? No votes for Representative Muraoka and Representative Pierick. The recommendation is adopted.

Thank you Members. HB 2179 related to transportation. I want to adopt the HD2 for tech amendments. Clarity, consistent style and note in the Committee report the requested amendment by HBL. I did not get prior concurrence. I did. I unfortunately did not have time to reach out to the First Committee.

So for that I just want to note the requested potential legislation. I'm sorry. The noted amendment in the Committee report for further deliberation by the next Committee Members. Questions, comments or concerns? Seeing none Vice Chair for the vote.

Voting on HB 2179 HD1 the recommendation is to pass with amendments. Any reservations? Any no votes? No votes for Representative Pierick. The recommendation is adopted.

Thank you Members. Our last Committee hearing for first lateral is this Thursday. If you have not already, please submit your testimony, and I'll see you folks then. No further business.

Thank you everybody