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HB227 • 2026

RELATING TO VEHICLE SAFETY.

RELATING TO VEHICLE SAFETY.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
KILA, CHUN, LAMOSAO, MIYAKE, TAKENOUCHI
Last action
2025-12-08
Official status
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details about fines for offenses beyond a second offense or specify the exact amount for fines when the certificate is more than two years expired.

Vehicle Safety Fines

This bill creates higher fines for individuals who operate vehicles or mopeds without a current certificate of inspection.

What This Bill Does

  • Increases the fine to $200 for operating a vehicle or moped without a valid certificate of inspection, up from $100 for a first offense.
  • Imposes an even higher fine if the certificate is more than two years expired.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Individuals who operate vehicles or mopeds without a current certificate of inspection will face increased fines.

Terms To Know

Certificate of Inspection
A document showing that a vehicle has been inspected and meets safety standards before it can be legally driven on public roads.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if someone cannot afford the inspection or fine.
  • It is unclear how this will affect individuals who accidentally drive without an up-to-date certificate.
  • The effective date of July 1, 3000 seems incorrect and likely needs to be updated.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment increases fines for operating a vehicle or moped without a current certificate of inspection.

  • Increases the fine for a first offense from $100 to $150.
  • Increases the fine for a second offense within ten years from $100 to $250.
  • The amendment text is incomplete and does not specify the maximum fine if the certificate of inspection is more than two years expired, making it unclear how this situation would be handled.

Bill History

  1. 2025-12-08 D

    Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

  2. 2025-02-04 H

    Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Amato voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kong, Ward excused (3).

  3. 2025-02-04 H

    Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 75) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

  4. 2025-01-28 H

    The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Evslin, Kitagawa, La Chica, Miyake, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

  5. 2025-01-24 H

    Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Tuesday, 01-28-25 10:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  6. 2025-01-21 H

    Referred to TRN, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 1

  7. 2025-01-17 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  8. 2025-01-16 H

    Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO VEHICLE SAFETY.
Certificate of Inspection; Vehicle Safety; Fines
Creates additional fines for any individual found operating a vehicle or moped without a current certificate of inspection. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB227

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

227

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to vehicle Safety
.

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

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section 286-25, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

����
"
�286-25
�
Operation of a vehicle
or moped without a certificate of inspection.
�
Whoever operates, permits the operation of,
causes to be operated, or parks any vehicle or moped on a public highway
without a current official certificate of inspection, issued under section
286-26, shall be fined not more than [
$100.
]
:

����
(1)
�
$100
for a first offense; and

����
(2)
�
$200
for a second offense within ten years of a prior offense;

provided
that the fine shall be not more than $
for any offense where the certificate of inspection is more than two years
expired.
"

����
SECTION 2.
�

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

����
SECTION 3.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Certificate
of Inspection; Vehicle Safety; Fines

Description:

Creates
additional fines for any individual found operating a vehicle or moped without
a current certificate of inspection.

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