LIHU‘E — Officials with the Kaua‘i Police Department are reminding motorists to check Hawai‘i’s vehicle laws before doing any customizing work. “Officers are tasked with enforcing all traffic-related laws. While we continue to issue citations for various offenses, we have
LIHU‘E — Officials with the Kaua‘i Police Department are reminding motorists to check Hawai‘i’s vehicle laws before doing any customizing work.
“Officers are tasked with enforcing all traffic-related laws. While we continue to issue citations for various offenses, we have been receiving complaints from the community, particularly in regards to head lights, oversized tires and height restrictions of motor vehicles,” Capt. Michael Contrades of the Patrol Service Bureau said in a county news release Monday. “In response to these complaints we are issuing a reminder to residents of the laws in place as we will be increasing our enforcement efforts.”
Hawai‘i Revised Statutes lists several laws relating to motor vehicles. Regarding headlights, vehicles must be equipped with “at least two head lamps which shall display white lights of equal candle power” (HRS 291-25) and two tail lights at the rear of the vehicle “which shall display red lights visible not less than 200 feet from the rear thereof” (HRS 291-31). Those in violation are subject to a $47 penalty.
The law continues to state that no person shall knowingly operate, display or possess “any lamp, reflector, or illumination device that appears to be the color blue, or colors blue and red, upon any motor vehicle, motorcycle, motor scooter, bicycle, or moped” (HRS 291-31.5). Violators shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed one year.
According to the Kaua‘i County Code, Section16-17.31, no person shall operate a motor vehicle “unless equipped with fenders, covers, flares, mud flaps or splash aprons, or unless the body of the vehicle covers the width of the tire tread to effectively protect against spray or splash of water, mud, rocks or other debris that could be propelled by the tires.” Violators will be fined $72.
Finally, HRS 291-35.1 states that maximum bumper heights are regulated based on the gross vehicle weight rating and measured from a level surface to the bottom of the bumper. The maximum height is 22 inches for passenger vehicles, 29 inches for vehicles 4,500 lbs. and under, 33 inches for vehicles 4,501 to 7,500 lbs. and 35 inches for vehicles between 7,501 and 10,000 lbs. The penalty for such a violation is $137.
“Our hope is that if we can educate or remind the public of these laws, especially those we see being repeatedly violated, motorists will take a proactive role in correcting these issues,” Contrades said. “We are asking everyone to drive safely and comply with all traffic laws.”
KPD issued over 20,000 citations for traffic violations in 2010.
