SB 2253 updates the "negligent injury in the first degree" offense to explicitly include injuries caused by drivers operating vehicles while intoxicated. This change directly affects drivers who cause injury to others while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The bill modifies the legal definition so that such incidents are prosecuted under this specific charge, ensuring they are treated as deliberate negligence under existing law. It does not change penalty levels but clarifies that intoxicated driving causing injury falls within this offense.
PART I: Requires motor vehicles to have front number plate mounting brackets or devices and for sellers, licensed dealers, or owners to securely affix number plates to the vehicles. PART II: Amends the Traffic Code relating to street racing. PART III: Expands the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program to high-risk locations of state or county highways as determined by the Department of Transportation, under certain conditions. Appropriates moneys. PART IV: Authorizes the installation of a school bus infraction detection system on the exterior of a school bus. Establishes strict liability and the process for issuing summons or citations for drivers shown by the system to be in violation of certain school bus laws. Clarifies the liability of drivers near a school bus that is actively monitored by a school bus infraction detection system. Appropriates moneys. PART V: Specifies that the Department of Transportation's Motor Vehicle Safety Office shall administer the Photo Red Light Imaging Detector Systems Program Special Fund and Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund. PART VI: Clarifies language relating to photo red light enforcement, automated speed enforcement, and penalty provisions. PART VII: Requires the Director of Transportation to adopt rules allowing for mobile vehicle safety inspections of passenger cars. Effective 7/1/3000; provided that part IV, except the rule-making directive and appropriation, effective 7/1/2028. (SD2)
This bill is a concurrent resolution that formally requests the Hawaii Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement to work together to create a state highway police force. It aims to address rising traffic fatalities by supplementing county police efforts with a specialized state-level enforcement unit focused on highway safety. The resolution highlights the potential benefits of combining transportation infrastructure expertise with law enforcement authority to improve traffic management and response to incidents. It does not authorize funding or mandate the creation of the force, but rather serves as a formal recommendation to the relevant state agencies.
This bill urges the Hawaii Department of Transportation to consider adopting a demerit points-based driver's licensing system. It directly affects drivers by proposing a method where points are added to a license for traffic violations, similar to systems used in approximately forty states. The resolution cites high traffic fatality rates and the department's acknowledgment that most crashes stem from human behavior as reasons for this recommendation. It does not mandate the change but requests the department to evaluate implementing this system to improve road safety.
This bill requests the Department of Transportation and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to form a working group that will coordinate infrastructure planning for Hawaiian home land developments. The working group will include leaders from both departments, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and infrastructure experts to review overlapping projects and identify ways to reduce costs through synchronized planning. Specifically, the group will map out planned improvements over a five-year period, evaluate opportunities to combine construction efforts like road and drainage work, and assess potential cost savings from joint execution. The group is tasked with developing a standardized coordination process, identifying legal or procedural barriers to cooperation, and recommending any necessary changes to make coordinated planning permanent. The working group must submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the end of 2026 and will dissolve on June 30, 2027.
This bill urges state and city transportation departments to collaborate with local community groups to develop and improve the coastal trail system on Oahu's North Shore. The resolution emphasizes the need for safe, non-vehicular pathways to address current unsafe road conditions and encourage walking and biking in the area. It calls for community involvement in all stages of trail planning, design, construction, and maintenance to ensure the trails meet local needs. The measure also references existing efforts like the Complete Streets Ordinance and Vision Zero Action Plan as context for improving transportation safety and accessibility.
This House Concurrent Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Transportation to clarify which agency is responsible for the Honopou Bridge on Maui and to work together to address safety and emergency access issues. The bill calls for these departments to assess the bridge's structural condition, identify restrictions on emergency vehicle access, and develop a coordinated plan to repair or upgrade the bridge so it can safely support modern fire trucks and other emergency vehicles. Additionally, the resolution requires the agencies to conduct community outreach, estimate costs and funding options, and submit a detailed report with a timeline to the Legislature by early 2027.
This House Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Transportation to evaluate adopting a demerit points-based driver's licensing system. The bill asks state officials to consider tracking traffic violations by assigning points to driver licenses, similar to systems used in 40 other states and the District of Columbia. It is intended to address Hawaii's high number of traffic fatalities by providing a structured way to monitor and discourage dangerous driving behaviors. The resolution directs copies to the Department of Transportation and county mayors for their consideration.
This bill urges the Hawaii Departments of Land and Natural Resources and Transportation to clarify who is responsible for the Honopou Bridge on east Maui and coordinate efforts to address safety, wildfire risk, and emergency access concerns. The bridge, which serves as a critical route for residents and emergency responders, has conflicting load capacity assessments that may prevent modern fire trucks and ambulances from crossing safely. The resolution directs state agencies to conduct community outreach, assess the bridge's structural condition, identify access restrictions, and develop a repair or replacement plan within 20 days before the 2027 legislative session. It also requires the agencies to identify funding sources and submit a detailed report to the Legislature outlining their findings and implementation timeline.
This House Resolution asks the Department of Land and Natural Resources to transfer land parcels for the East Kapolei Transit-Oriented Development Project to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. It also urges the Housing Corporation to partner with the Hawaii Community Development Authority to help develop non-housing parts of the project, such as commercial and retail spaces. The resolution is based on the Housing Corporation's existing expertise in housing development and its established partnerships with other agencies for similar projects. This bill does not mandate any action but expresses the legislature's preference for how state agencies should organize their responsibilities for this development.
