Van cam repeal takes effect today
By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer
It's official: Van cams are dead.
A repeal of the law authorizing Hawai'i's brief, unpopular experiment with traffic photo enforcement takes effect today.
The repeal became law without Gov. Ben Cayetano's signature, 10 working days after receiving it from lawmakers, spokeswoman Kim Murakawa said.
Even though Cayetano ordered an end to the program earlier this month, and the law authorizing photo enforcement is now off the books, the effects of the program are likely to linger.
Several thousand people who received tickets before the program was stopped still must deal with them. The repeal legislation specifically does not affect outstanding citations, penalties or proceedings.
Those wishing to contest their tickets in person can still do so at their scheduled civil hearing in court, said judiciary spokeswoman Marsha Kitigawa. The hearings will continue through May 21 in Honolulu and as late as June 17 in outlying courts. The tickets also can be contested in a written statement to the courts.
The private operator of the camera program is asking for $2 million to $4 million in compensation for the termination of its contract, officials say.
A final provision in the repeal bill also ordered all money in the Transportation Department's photo enforcement revolving fund and any new ticket revenue to be transferred to the state's general fund.
The revolving fund was established as a $5 million loan from the state highway fund to get the photo enforcement program up and running. The loan was to be repaid using traffic camera fines. That money apparently will be lost for further use by the Transportation Department.
Reach Mike Leidemann at 525-5460 or mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.
