RELATING TO TRAFFIC CITATIONS.

Crime

Active

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

Sponsor: LA CHICA, KILA, MARTEN, PIERICK, TAKENOUCHI, TAM, TODD, Chun
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date of July 1, 3000 is likely a placeholder and needs clarification.

Traffic Camera Penalties

This bill makes it a serious crime to damage traffic cameras and allows the Department of Law Enforcement to set up and run traffic cameras that can issue fines for traffic violations.

What This Bill Does

Makes it a class C felony to intentionally destroy or damage a traffic camera.
Allows the Department of Law Enforcement to establish and implement traffic cameras to impose monetary liability on registered vehicle owners for traffic violations.
Requires the department to inform drivers about new traffic cameras before they start working.
Gives a warning period during the first month when new traffic cameras are used.

Who It Names or Affects

People who intentionally damage traffic cameras will face criminal charges.
Drivers may receive fines for traffic violations through the mail.
The Department of Law Enforcement can set up and manage traffic cameras.

Terms To Know

Class C felony: A serious crime that carries a penalty of at least one year in prison but less than five years, plus fines.
Traffic camera: A camera set up by the Department of Law Enforcement to monitor traffic and issue fines for violations.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much money will be paid in fines.
It is unclear if all counties will participate in setting up these cameras.
The effective date of July 1, 3000 seems to be a placeholder and needs clarification.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment makes it a felony to intentionally destroy or damage traffic cameras owned by state or county agencies.

Adds a new section in Chapter 291C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, making the destruction or damage of traffic cameras a class C felony.

The effective date listed as July 1, 3000 is likely an error and should be clarified.
Further details about penalties for lesser offenses are not provided in this amendment text.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-02-14 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).
2025-02-14 H
Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 705) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2025-02-13 H
The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, La Chica, Miyake, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Evslin, Kitagawa.
2025-02-11 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Thursday, 02-13-25 10:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 1
2025-01-17 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-16 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO TRAFFIC CITATIONS.
Traffic Cameras; Penalties
Establishes that intentional destruction or damage to a traffic camera is a class C felony. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB334

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

334

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to traffic citations
.

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

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Chapter 291C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

����
"
�291C-
�
Traffic
cameras.

�
(a)
�

The department of law enforcement may establish and implement any
traffic camera to impose monetary liability on the registered owner of a motor
vehicle for failure to comply with traffic-related laws.
�
The department of law enforcement may provide
for the:

����
(1)
�
Procurement,
location, and oversight of any traffic camera; and

����
(2)
�
Installation,
operation, maintenance, and repair of any traffic camera through a third party
contractor.

Where any
traffic camera affects state property, the department
of law enforcement
shall cooperate with and assist the county as
needed to install, maintain, and repair any traffic camera established pursuant
to this section.

����
(b)
�
If the department of law enforcement establishes
any traffic camera under this section, the compensation paid by the department
to a manufacturer or vendor of the equipment used shall be based upon the value
of the equipment and services provided or rendered in support of any traffic
camera, and shall not be based upon a portion of the fine or civil penalty
imposed or the revenue generated by the equipment.

����
(c)
�

The department
of law
enforcement
may issue a citation by first class mail for any violation
of traffic laws that do not mandate the physical arrest of violators within ten
calendar days from the time of the incident for motor vehicles disregarding
traffic laws.

����
(d)
�
At least sixty days prior to traffic cameras
becoming operational, the department of law enforcement, in conjunction with
any county that implements traffic cameras pursuant to this section, shall
conduct a comprehensive informational and educational campaign to inform
motorists and the general public about the traffic cameras.

����
(e)
�

During the first thirty days of operation of any traffic camera in a
particular traffic area, a warning shall be issued for any violation of traffic
laws that do not mandate the physical arrest of violators, and mailed to the
registered owner of the motor vehicle at the address on record at the vehicle
licensing division, in lieu of a summons or citation pursuant to subsection (c).

����
(f)
�

Any person who knowingly destroys or damages a traffic camera shall be guilty
of a class C felony.

����
(g)
�

For the purposes of this section, "traffic camera" means any
camera owned and operated under the authority of the department of law
enforcement.
"

����
SECTION 2.
�

New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 3.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DLE;
Traffic Cameras; Citations; Mail; Motor Vehicles; Traffic Code

Description:

Authorizes
the Department of Law Enforcement to establish traffic cameras and issue a
citation by mail for certain violations of traffic-related laws.
�
Establishes that intentional destruction or
damage to a traffic camera is a class C felony.

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