Bill Text: HI SB955 | 2014 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Transportation; Vehicle Inspection Exemption
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-12-18 - Carried over to 2014 Regular Session. [SB955 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2014-SB955-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
955 |
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TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that new cars sold within the State of Hawaii are typically covered under warranties lasting a minimum of three years or thirty-six thousand miles. As Hawaii drivers do not typically exceed thirty-six thousand miles within two or even three years of purchasing a new car, requiring drivers to obtain a certificate of inspection within two years of purchasing a new car imposes an undue burden on new car drivers and is not in the best interest of the State.
The legislature further finds that in 2008, the North Carolina General Assembly Program Evaluation Division released a report entitled: "Doubtful Return on the Public's $141 Million Investment in Poorly Managed Vehicle Inspection Programs". The report included an extensive review of other jurisdictions' requirements at the time, and found that twenty-seven states and Washington, D.C., did not have safety inspection programs and ten states provided three-year exemptions for new vehicles.
The report recommended that North Carolina reevaluate the need for a safety inspection program, as the "impact of the safety program is difficult to measure", or consider exempting vehicles from the three newest model years, which would "allow the state to focus on ensuring cars that are more likely to fail are getting inspected".
The legislature also finds that technological advances and efficiencies in materials and processes in the manufacturing of automobiles and its parts or accessories over the past decade have become more reliable and resistant to general wear-and-tear. Specifically, the vehicles coming off the assembly line and into our communities today are expected to have a stronger likelihood of not failing a safety inspection within their initial three years of operation than similar vehicles that were manufactured a decade ago. According to the Center for Automotive Research in 2010, between $16,000,000,000 and $18,000,000,000 is spent each year by the automotive industry on research and development, which includes vehicle safety aspects. The legislature finds that the amount of funds dedicated to research and development increases the likelihood that future automobiles will be even safer to operate than they are today.
The purpose of this Act is to require a certificate of inspection every twenty-four months for all vehicles.
SECTION 2. Section 286-26, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:
"(a) The following vehicles shall be
certified as provided in subsection (e) once every [year:] twenty-four
months:
(1) Trucks, truck-tractors, semitrailers, and pole trailers having a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds;
(2) Buses;
(3) Rental or U-drive motor vehicles two years of age or older; and
(4) Taxicabs.
Ambulances shall be certified as provided in subsection (e) once every six months.
(b) All other vehicles, including motorcycles,
trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers having a gross vehicle weight rating
of 10,000 pounds or less, and antique motor vehicles as defined in section
249-1, except those in subsections (c) and (d), shall be certified as provided
in subsection (e) every [twelve] twenty-four months; provided
that any vehicle to which this subsection applies shall not require inspection
within [two years] twenty-four months of the date on which the
vehicle was first sold."
SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2016.
Report Title:
Transportation; Vehicle Inspection Exemption
Description:
Requires obtaining a certificate of vehicle inspection every twenty-four months for all vehicles. Takes effect 1/1/2016. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
