Maui Lawmakers Introduce Vehicle Boot, Traffic Cam, Gaming Bills

By Wendy Osher

Several bills introduced by Maui lawmakers will be heard in respective House committees today including items relating to red light cameras, vehicle boot legislation, gaming on Hawaiian Home lands, and the House version of what has become known as the “Move Over” bill.

Rep. Souki. File photo by Wendy Osher.

Souki Introduces Red Light Camera and Vehicle Boot Bills

At the state capitol, three bills introduced by Rep. Joe Souki of Maui will be heard by the House Committee on Transportation today.

Two of the bills are related to highway safety and seek the establishment of photo speed imaging detectors and photo red light imaging detectors.

Under the bills, individual counties would have the ability to administer the programs in their districts.

A third bill would give counties the authorization to implement a vehicle boot program that would be used on vehicles belonging to motorists with outstanding violations.

Under the measure, the boot would remain in place until those traffic violations are resolved.

Gaming. File photo by Wendy Osher.

Committee on Hawaiian Affairs considers Caroll’s Gaming Bill

Also at the state legislature, the House Committee on Hawaiian Affairs will hold a hearing today on gaming legislation introduced by Rep. Mele Carroll of Maui.

House Bill 2379 seeks the authorization of the Hawaiian Homes Commission to allow gaming on Hawaiian Home Lands, designating specific parcels for gaming operations.

Under the bill, a wagering tax would be imposed on gross receipts, providing funds for distribution to the general fund and Hawaiian Home Lands Trust Fund.

Gil Keith-Agaran, file photo by Wendy Osher.

Keith-Agaran Introduces House Version of “Move Over” Bill

Members of the House Committee on Transportation today will hear the House version of a measure that has become known as the “Move Over” bill.

Rep. Gil Keith-Agaran of Maui introduced the House version of the bill, which would require motorists to “move over” when passing a stationary emergency vehicle on a highway.

House Bill 2030 and companion measure SB 2663, were introduced in the wake of recent traffic fatalities involving Honolulu police officers Garret Davis, and Eric Fontes.

Davis was responding to a stalled vehicle when he was rear-ended, and Fontes was fatally injured when he was hit by a passing car at a traffic stop.  The incidents occurred within four months of each other in Honolulu.