HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	161
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to registration of vehicles.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that some individuals and entities intentionally abandon vehicles on roads and highways throughout the State, and that it is difficult for the counties to recoup the costs of towing and disposal.  The legislature further finds that if the counties were able to require that the costs of towing and disposal be paid as a condition precedent to registration of vehicles, the counties would have an easier time recouping their costs.

     SECTION 2.  Section 286-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  The certificate of registration for each motor vehicle in the counties of the State shall be renewed on a staggered basis as established by each county.  The director of finance of each county may adopt rules to carry out the purposes stated in this section and shall expend the necessary funds from the director's operating funds as may be necessary for these purposes; provided that the director of finance, if the director has ascertained as of the date of the application that the registered owner has not deposited or paid bail with respect to any summons or citation issued to the registered owner for stopping, standing, or parking in violation of traffic ordinances within the county, or has outstanding charges owed to the county for the towing, removal, or disposal of an abandoned or derelict vehicle within the county, may require, as a condition precedent to the renewal, that the registered owner deposit or pay bail with respect to all such summonses [or], citations[.], or outstanding charges.  The certificates of registration issued hereunder shall show, in addition to all information required under section 286-47, the serial number of the tag or emblem and shall be valid during the registration year only for which they are issued.  The certificates of ownership need not be renewed annually but shall remain valid as to any interest shown therein until canceled by the director of finance as provided by law or replaced by new certificates of ownership as hereinafter provided."

     SECTION 3.  Section 286-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  Subsection (b), requiring a transferee to forward the certificate of ownership after endorsement to the director of finance, shall not apply to the transferee of a vehicle who was not intending to and does not drive the vehicle or permit the vehicle to be driven upon the public highways, but every such transferee, upon transferring the transferee's interest or title to another, shall give notice of the transfer to the director of finance and endorse the certificate of ownership to the new legal owner and the certificate of registration to the new owner; provided that if the director of finance has ascertained as of the date of the application that the registered owner has not deposited or paid bail with respect to any summons or citation issued to the registered owner for stopping, standing, or parking in violation of traffic ordinances within the county, or has outstanding charges owed to the county for the towing, removal, or disposal of an abandoned or derelict vehicle within the county, the director may require, as a condition precedent to the transfer, that the registered owner deposit or pay bail with respect to all such summons [or], citations[.], or outstanding charges."

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2021.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________
	By Request

 

 

Report Title:

Hawaii State Association of Counties Package; Registration of Vehicles; Outstanding Charges

 

Description:

Allows the director of finance of a county to require payment of outstanding charges owed to the county for the towing, removal, or disposal of an abandoned or derelict vehicle within the county before issuing a motor vehicle certificate of registration.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.