Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

Hawaii Senate Bill SB346 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	THE SENATE S.B. NO. 346 THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 ~~S.D. 1~~ STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
	1	+	THE SENATE S.B. NO. 346 THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
2	2
3	3		THE SENATE S.B. NO. 346
4		-	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 ~~S.D. 1~~
	4	+	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
5	5		STATE OF HAWAII
6	6
7	7		THE SENATE
8	8
9	9		S.B. NO.
10	10
11	11		346
12	12
13	13		THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
14	14
15		-	~~S.D. 1~~
	15	+
16	16
17	17		STATE OF HAWAII
18	18
19	19
20	20
21	21
22	22
23	23
24	24
25	25
26	26
27	27
28	28
29	29
30	30
31	31		A BILL FOR AN ACT
32	32
33	33
34	34
35	35
36	36
37	37		RELATING TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES.
38	38
39	39
40	40
41	41
42	42
43	43		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
44	44
45	45
46	46
47		-	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the use of sirens by emergency vehicles can be necessary to alert other vehicles and pedestrians that an emergency vehicle is exercising its authority to disregard certain traffic laws, such as proceeding through a red light or exceeding the posted speed limit. The legislature further finds that some emergency response sectors have determined that there should be flexibility to not engage the siren in situations where it is unnecessary, such as responding at night when the streets are empty of cars and pedestrians. Further, the city and county of Honolulu has expressed in its ordinances that the siren should be used "as may be reasonably necessary". Despite this, some emergency response sectors believe that the use of the siren is mandatory in all circumstances. The legislature notes that the unnecessary use of a siren contributes to noise pollution, especially in heavily-congested residential areas. Accordingly, the purpose of this ~~Act~~ is to provide flexibility in the use of sirens by emergency response vehicles in certain circumstances. SECTION 2. Section 291C-26, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows: "(c) The exemptions granted in subsection (b) to an authorized emergency vehicle shall apply only when the vehicle is making use of authorized audible and visual signals[, except as otherwise provided by county ordinance.]; provided that use of an authorized audible signal shall not be required if it is not reasonably necessary under the circumstances. This subsection shall not apply to police vehicles." SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
	47	+	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the use of sirens by emergency vehicles can be necessary to alert other vehicles and pedestrians that an emergency vehicle is exercising its authority to disregard certain traffic laws, such as proceeding through a red light or exceeding the posted speed limit. The legislature further finds that some emergency response sectors have determined that there should be flexibility to not engage the siren in situations where it is unnecessary, such as responding at night when the streets are empty of cars and pedestrians. Further, the city and county of Honolulu has expressed in its ordinances that the siren should be used "as may be reasonably necessary". Despite this, some emergency response sectors believe that the use of the siren is mandatory in all circumstances. The legislature notes that the unnecessary use of a siren contributes to noise pollution, especially in heavily-congested residential areas. Accordingly, the purpose of this measure is to provide flexibility in the use of sirens by emergency response vehicles in certain circumstances. SECTION 2. Section 291C-26, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows: "(c) The exemptions granted in subsection (b) to an authorized emergency vehicle shall apply only when the vehicle is making use of authorized audible and visual signals[, except as otherwise provided by county ordinance.]; provided that use of an authorized audible signal shall not be required if it is not reasonably necessary under the circumstances. This subsection shall not apply to police vehicles." SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
48	48
49	49		SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the use of sirens by emergency vehicles can be necessary to alert other vehicles and pedestrians that an emergency vehicle is exercising its authority to disregard certain traffic laws, such as proceeding through a red light or exceeding the posted speed limit. The legislature further finds that some emergency response sectors have determined that there should be flexibility to not engage the siren in situations where it is unnecessary, such as responding at night when the streets are empty of cars and pedestrians. Further, the city and county of Honolulu has expressed in its ordinances that the siren should be used "as may be reasonably necessary". Despite this, some emergency response sectors believe that the use of the siren is mandatory in all circumstances. The legislature notes that the unnecessary use of a siren contributes to noise pollution, especially in heavily-congested residential areas.
50	50
51		-	Accordingly, the purpose of this ~~Act~~ is to provide flexibility in the use of sirens by emergency response vehicles in certain circumstances.
	51	+	Accordingly, the purpose of this measure is to provide flexibility in the use of sirens by emergency response vehicles in certain circumstances.
52	52
53	53		SECTION 2. Section 291C-26, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
54	54
55	55		"(c) The exemptions granted in subsection (b) to an authorized emergency vehicle shall apply only when the vehicle is making use of authorized audible and visual signals[, except as otherwise provided by county ordinance.]; provided that use of an authorized audible signal shall not be required if it is not reasonably necessary under the circumstances. This subsection shall not apply to police vehicles."
56	56
57	57		SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
58	58
59	59		SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
60	60
61		-	Report Title: Emergency Vehicles; Siren Use Description: Makes it discretionary for authorized emergency vehicles to use sirens when responding to an emergency or in other specified situations if the siren is not reasonably necessary under the circumstances. (SD1) The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
	61	+
	62	+
	63	+	INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
	64	+
	65	+	INTRODUCED BY:
	66	+
	67	+	_____________________________
	68	+
	69	+
	70	+
	71	+
	72	+
	73	+	Report Title: Emergency Vehicles; Siren Use Description: Makes it discretionary for authorized emergency vehicles to use sirens when responding to an emergency or in other specified situations if the siren is not reasonably necessary under the circumstances. The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
62	74
63	75
64	76
65	77
66	78
67	79		Report Title:
68	80
69	81		Emergency Vehicles; Siren Use
70	82
71	83
72	84
73	85		Description:
74	86
75		-	Makes it discretionary for authorized emergency vehicles to use sirens when responding to an emergency or in other specified situations if the siren is not reasonably necessary under the circumstances. ~~(SD1)~~
	87	+	Makes it discretionary for authorized emergency vehicles to use sirens when responding to an emergency or in other specified situations if the siren is not reasonably necessary under the circumstances.
76	88
77	89
78	90
79	91
80	92
81	93
82	94
83	95		The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.