REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO COLLABORATE TO ESTABLISH A STATE HIGHWAY POLICE FORCE.

SR70

THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

70

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

requesting the department of transportation and
department of law enforcement to collaborate to establish a state highway
police force
.

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WHEREAS, Hawaii's
roadways have become increasingly dangerous, particularly during the previous
year; and

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WHEREAS, an
alarming increase in pedestrian and motorcycle fatalities, especially on Oahu,
pushed the total number of deaths in 2025 on the State's roadways to 129, which
is more than a twenty percent increase over the number of deaths in 2024 and
the highest number since 2007; and

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WHEREAS, safety
on Hawaii's roads could improve with greater enforcement of traffic laws and
better transportation planning; and

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WHEREAS, county
police departments are primarily responsible for enforcing traffic laws on the
State's roadways; and

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WHEREAS, the
establishment of a state highway police force could supplement the efforts of
county police departments; and

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WHEREAS, collaboration
between the Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement to
establish a state highway police force has the potential to significantly
improve traffic safety on Hawaii's roadways by combining expertise, resources,
and enforcement authority to address traffic challenges more comprehensively
and effectively; and

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WHEREAS, a state
highway police force would allow for integrated strategies that blend
transportation's emphasis on infrastructure and traffic management with law
enforcement's focus on compliance and deterrence; and

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WHEREAS, a state
highway police force could be specially trained and equipped to handle
incidents on highways, ensuring rapid clearance of crashes and minimizing
secondary accidents caused by congestion or confusion; now, therefore,

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BE IT
RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii,
Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Transportation and Department
of Law Enforcement are requested to collaborate to establish a state highway
police force; and

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BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Director of Transportation and Director of Law Enforcement.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
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Department
of Transportation; Department of Law Enforcement; State Highway Police