State Sen. Gary Hooser, D-Kaua‘i-Ni‘ihau, who sparred with Republican Gov. Linda Lingle on a variety of legislative matters during their first terms in office, said yesterday he is willing to work with Lingle on matters Lingle has proposed to reduce
State Sen. Gary Hooser, D-Kaua‘i-Ni‘ihau, who sparred with Republican Gov. Linda Lingle on a variety of legislative matters during their first terms in office, said yesterday he is willing to work with Lingle on matters Lingle has proposed to reduce speeding and traffic accidents and deaths.
Lingle this week announced legislative proposals aimed at improving traffic safety, including a plan to change driver’s-license procedures for those under 21.
Under the new plan, 16- and 17-year-old drivers would receive provisional licenses, which would force them to drive with a parent or guardian between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Currently, 16- and 17-year-olds who have licenses have no special provisions.
Other traffic-safety initiatives Lingle announced Wednesday at Honolulu Police Department headquarters include proposals to boost penalties for excessive speeding, for providing alcohol to minors, and a plan to better clarify when cars should stop when pedestrians are in the crosswalks.
Lingle also is seeking legislation to make it illegal for anyone to possess, sell, make, import or distribute any device that can change traffic signals. Such infrared devices are used legally by police and emergency vehicles to change traffic lights when needed.
“Excessive speeding, drunk driving, disregard for pedestrians and inexperienced driving continue to take a devastating toll on residents and visitors who use our streets,” said Lingle. “The initiatives we propose are common sense measures that will help make our roads safer and save lives.”
And while Hooser agrees that some of the measures sound like good ideas, he added, “the devil is in the details.”
“I look forward to reviewing the initiatives and working with the governor” to pass beneficial legislation, he said.
Hooser, who was in Honolulu Airport on his way back from work when reached by telephone, said he has yet to review the initiatives, and was reluctant to comment on the specifics until he had seen the bills.
The specifics are, according to Lingle:
- The administration will propose a bill to establish a three-stage, graduated, driver-licensing program for persons under age 18. The bill would require young drivers to be accompanied by a licensed parent or guardian when driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., with limited exceptions. The bill also requires the permit holder to be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21, rather than the current minimum age of 18, when driving.
Step one would grant a learner’s permit to persons 15 years old.
Step two would grant a provisional license to drivers who are 16 to 17 years old, and have held a learner’s permit for at least 180 days, completed all requirements of the driver’s-education program and passed the driver’s examination. Step three would grant a four-year license to 17-year-old drivers, as opposed to a six-year license for drivers over 21.
A similar bill was introduced last session by state Reps. Joe Souki and Kirk Caldwell, both Democrats, but failed to make it out of a conference committee.
- The measures include a bill to double the fine (currently $250) and increase the penalty for persons exceeding the speed limit on the road as well as in school and construction zones.
Under the bill, any person who exceeds the posted speed limit by 25 mph or more, or anyone who is driving more than 80 mph, can be found guilty of a misdemeanor. In addition to the fine, penalties for first-time offenders would include a 30-day license suspension, mandatory attendance in a driver-retraining course, and 36 hours of community service or jail time of two to five days. Penalties would increase for repeat offenders.
- Another proposed bill would suspend the driver’s license for 90 days of any person under 21 who is caught drinking. The bill also clarifies a law that any adult who provides as well as purchases liquor for a person who is under 21 years old shall be criminally prosecuted.
The current law addresses only the purchase of liquor, and does not address the penalty for such action.
- To help protect pedestrians using marked crosswalks, Lingle will propose a bill to require motorists to stop when a person steps into the crosswalk to cross the street.
Under current law, a driver must yield the right of way when a pedestrian is “upon the half of the crosswalk upon which the vehicle is traveling.” Because this language is unclear, the driver must make a judgment as to when a person is “half way” in a crosswalk.
Two pedestrians died on Kaua‘i in traffic accidents in 2004, and one was apparently in a crosswalk at the time of the accident.
- Another bill proposes to make it illegal to possess, sell, manufacture, import or distribute any traffic-control devices or mobile-infrared transmitters. Such devices are used legally by operators of emergency vehicles, such as ambulances and fire trucks, to change traffic signals to allow them to navigate safely through intersections when people’s lives are at stake.
Kaua‘i has 15 traffic signals that can be controlled by remote-control devices for emergency-personnel use, out of the 25 total signals on the island.
Under existing law, it is illegal for a person to alter, deface, knock down or remove a traffic light or stop sign. This bill would add the offense of interfering with a traffic signal through the use of a traffic-control device.
The penalty would be a fine of up to $2,000 and/or a term of imprisonment of up to one year.
“These measures serve as reminders for all of us to be more attentive and responsible when we drive, while imposing stiffer penalties for those who put other motorists and pedestrians at risk,” said Lingle.
Tom Finnegan, staff writer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or tfinnegan@pulitzer.net.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
