Posted on: Wednesday, January 11, 2006
HPD proposes 8 public safety bills
By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer
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POLICE PACKAGE FOR LAWMAKERS BILLS PROPOSED LAST YEAR 1. Bill that would create offenses of unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle in the first and second degrees, similar to a trespassing in vehicle offense. Any person who enters or remains unlawfully in a vehicle would be guilty of a misdemeanor. This bill was submitted last year but failed to pass the final phase of hearings. 2. Bill to make it a felony for individuals to be caught with stolen property belonging to three or more persons in the same or separate incident as part of a common scheme or plan with the intent to defraud or misrepresent by using the information obtained from the theft. This bill was submitted last year but failed to pass the final phase of hearings. 3. Bill requiring pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers to file daily electronic reports of their property transactions with the county police departments. It establishes a working group to review and make recommendations on the reporting requirements. Was submitted last year but failed to pass the final phase of hearings. 4. Bill that proposes a 25-year retirement for police radio dispatchers. This bill was submitted last year but failed to pass the final phase of hearings. 5. Bill that attempts to obtain reimbursement from the state for our officers' court overtime costs. This bill has been submitted annually for several years. NEW BILLS 1. Bill provides that part of highway fund monies must be expended by the police department of any county with a population of more than 500,000 to establish and maintain a county highway patrol. 2. Bill defines the .50-caliber Browning Machine Gun and BMG cartridge and to prohibit the transfer of ownership or importation of such firearms and ammunition in the state of Hawai'i. 3. Bill mandates safety helmet use for moped operators under the age of 18 years. Information was submitted to Representative Marilyn Lee, who volunteered to write and introduce the bill for the department. Source: Honolulu Police Department |
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The Honolulu Police Department is recommending eight law enforcement bills in the upcoming legislative session, including three new measures that would set up a highway patrol, curb the sale of .50-caliber guns and require the use of helmets by moped riders under the age of 18.
Five of the proposed bills are from the previous session.
None of the bills that are up for reconsideration was "objectionable" last session, said state Rep. Sylvia Luke, D-26th (Punchbowl, Pacific Heights, Nu'uanu Valley), chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee.
"There are just other areas we want to look at and expand on," Luke said. "We generally take their package of bills very seriously and evaluate and analyze each and every one of them."
Police Maj. Henry Robinson, head of the department's Legislative Liaison Office, said the bills are designed with the public's safety in mind.
Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.
