Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291-3.2 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291 / Section 291-3.2
Consuming or possessing intoxicating liquor while a passenger in a motor vehicle.
Status: in_force

(a) No person shall consume any intoxicating liquor while a passenger in any motor vehicle or on any moped upon any public street, road, or highway.

(b) No person shall possess, while a passenger in a motor vehicle or on a moped upon any public street, road, or highway, any bottle, can, or other receptacle containing any intoxicating liquor which has been opened, or a seal broken, or the contents of which have been partially removed.

(c) Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor. [L 1981, c 152, pt of §1; am L 1986, c 171, §4; am L 1987, c 33, §8; am L 2000, c 62, §2]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-86 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-86
[ §286-86] Counterfeit air bags.
Status: in_force

[ §286-86] Counterfeit air bags. (a) No person shall intentionally or knowingly manufacture, import, install, reinstall, distribute, sell, or offer for sale any counterfeit supplemental restraint system component, nonfunctional air bag, or air bag that does not meet federal safety requirements as provided in title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 571.208, with the intent that such device replace an air bag in any air-bag-required motor vehicle .

(b) No person shall intentionally or knowingly sell, offer for sale, install, or reinstall in an air-bag-required motor vehicle any device that causes the air-bag-required motor vehicle's diagnostic systems to fail to warn that:

(1) An air bag is not installed; or

(2) The air-bag-required motor vehicle is equipped with:

(A) A counterfeit supplemental restraint system component;

(B) A nonfunctional air bag; or

(C) An air bag that does not meet federal safety requirements as provided in title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 571.208.

(c) For purposes of this section, an installation or reinstallation shall not be deemed to have occurred until the work is complete.

(d) A violation of this section is a class C felony.

(e) The remedies prescribed in this section are cumulative and in addition to any other remedies provided by law.

(f) As used in this section:

"Air bag" means an air-bag-required motor vehicle inflatable occupant restraint system device that is part of a supplemental restraint system.

"Air-bag-required motor vehicle" means every vehicle that is required under title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 571.208 to have an air bag installed.

"Counterfeit supplemental restraint system component" means a replacement supplemental restraint system component, including but not limited to an air bag, that displays a mark identical or substantially similar to the genuine mark of an air-bag-required motor vehicle manufacturer or a supplier of parts to the manufacturer of an air-bag-required motor vehicle without authorization from that manufacturer or supplier, respectively.

"Nonfunctional air bag" means a replacement air bag that meets any of the following criteria:

(1) The air bag was previously deployed or damaged;

(2) The air bag has an electric fault that is detected by the air-bag-required motor vehicle's air bag diagnostic systems when the installation procedure is completed and the air-bag-required motor vehicle is returned to the customer who requested the work to be performed or when ownership is intended to be transferred;

(3) The air bag includes a part or object, including but not limited to a supplemental restraint system component, installed in an air-bag-required motor vehicle to mislead the owner or operator of the air-bag-required motor vehicle into believing that a functional air bag has been installed; or

(4) The air bag is subject to the prohibitions of title 49 United States Code section 30120(j).

"Supplemental restraint system" means a passive inflatable air-bag-required motor vehicle occupant crash protection system designed for use in conjunction with active restraint systems as described in title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 571.208. A supplemental restraint system includes one or more air bags and all components required to ensure that an air bag works as designed by the air-bag-required motor vehicle manufacturer, including:

(1) The air bag operates in the event of a crash; and

(2) The air bag is designed in accordance with federal air-bag-required motor vehicle safety standards for the specific make, model, and year of the air-bag-required motor vehicle in which it is or will be installed. [L 2020, c 71, §2]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-212 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-212
Suspension or revocation of permits.
Status: in_force

The director shall supervise and cause inspections to be made of official inspection stations and shall suspend or revoke and require the surrender of the permit issued to a station which the director finds is not properly conducting inspections. The director shall maintain and post at the department lists of all stations holding permits and those whose permits have been suspended or revoked. [L Sp 1977 1st, c 20, pt of §1; gen ch 1985]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 290-42 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 290 / Section 290-42
Disposition of license plates.
Status: in_force

Whoever shall abandon a vehicle, or having attained custody of an abandoned vehicle, disposes of, or conveys it as junk shall remove and transmit any license plates on such vehicle to the county agency charged with carrying out the functions and requirements of this chapter. The county agency receiving the license plates shall provide for the destruction of the plates. Violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-126 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-126
Period of suspension or revocation.
Status: in_force

Unless otherwise provided by law, a court of competent jurisdiction shall not suspend a license for a longer period than five years; and when a court has revoked a license, the person whose license was revoked may not apply for, and the examiner of drivers may not grant, a new driver's license until the expiration of the period of revocation determined by the court.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291E-36 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291E / Section 291E-36
Documents required to be submitted for administrative review; sworn statements.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever a respondent has been arrested for a violation of section 291E-61 or 291E-61.5 and submits to a test that establishes: the respondent's alcohol concentration was .08 or more; the presence, in the respondent's blood or urine, of any drug that is capable of impairing the respondent's ability to operate a vehicle in a careful and prudent manner; or whenever a respondent has been involved in a collision resulting in injury or death and a blood or urine test performed pursuant to section 291E-21 establishes that the respondent's alcohol concentration was .08 or more or establishes the presence in the respondent's blood or urine of any drug that is capable of impairing the respondent's ability to operate a vehicle in a careful and prudent manner, the following shall be forwarded immediately to the director:

(1) A copy of the arrest report or the report of the law enforcement officer who issued the notice of administrative revocation to the person involved in a collision resulting in injury or death and the sworn statement of the arresting law enforcement officer or the officer who issued the notice of administrative revocation, stating facts that establish that:

(A) There was reasonable suspicion to stop the vehicle, the vehicle was stopped at an intoxicant control roadblock established and operated in compliance with sections 291E-19 and 291E-20, or the respondent was tested pursuant to section 291E-21;

(B) There was probable cause to believe that the respondent had been operating the vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant; and

(C) The respondent agreed to be tested or the person was tested pursuant to section 291E-21;

(2) In a case involving an alcohol related offense, the sworn statement of the person responsible for maintenance of the testing equipment, stating facts that establish that, pursuant to section 321-161 and rules adopted thereunder:

(A) The equipment used to conduct the test was approved for use as an alcohol testing device in this State;

(B) The person had been trained and at the time the test was conducted was certified and capable of maintaining the testing equipment; and

(C) The testing equipment used had been properly maintained and was in good working condition when the test was conducted;

(3) In a case involving an alcohol related offense, the sworn statement of the person who conducted the test, stating facts that establish that, pursuant to section 321-161 and rules adopted thereunder:

(A) The person was trained and at the time the test was conducted was certified and capable of operating the testing equipment;

(B) The person followed the procedures established for conducting the test;

(C) The equipment used to conduct the test functioned in accordance with operating procedures and indicated that the respondent's alcohol concentration was at, or above, the prohibited level; and

(D) The person whose breath or blood was tested is the respondent;

(4) In a case involving a drug related offense, the sworn statement of the person responsible for maintenance of the testing equipment, stating facts that establish that, pursuant to section 321-161 and rules adopted thereunder:

(A) The equipment used to conduct the test was approved for use in drug testing;

(B) The person conducting the test had been trained and, at the time of the test, was certified and capable of maintaining the testing equipment; and

(C) The testing equipment used had been properly maintained and was in good working condition when the test was conducted;

(5) In a case involving a drug related offense, the sworn statement of the person who conducted the test, stating facts that establish that, pursuant to section 321-161 and rules adopted thereunder:

(A) At the time the test was conducted, the person was trained and capable of operating the testing equipment;

(B) The person followed the procedures established for conducting the test;

(C) The equipment used to conduct the test functioned in accordance with operating procedures and indicated the presence of one or more drugs or their metabolites in the respondent's blood or urine; and

(D) The person whose blood or urine was tested is the respondent;

(6) A copy of the notice of administrative revocation issued by the law enforcement officer to the respondent;

(7) Any license taken into possession by the law enforcement officer; and

(8) A listing of any prior alcohol or drug enforcement contacts involving the respondent.

(b) Whenever a respondent has been arrested for a violation of section 291E-61 or 291E-61.5 and refuses to submit to a test to determine alcohol concentration or drug content in the blood or urine, the following shall be forwarded immediately to the director:

(1) A copy of the arrest report and the sworn statement of the arresting law enforcement officer, stating facts that establish that:

(A) There was reasonable suspicion to stop the vehicle or the vehicle was stopped at an intoxicant control roadblock established and operated in compliance with sections 291E-19 and 291E-20;

(B) There was probable cause to believe that the respondent had been operating the vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant;

(C) The respondent was informed of:

(i) The sanctions of section 291E-41;

(ii) The possibility that criminal charges may be filed; and

(iii) The probable consequences of refusing to be tested for alcohol concentration or drug content in the blood or urine; and

(D) The respondent refused to be tested;

(2) A copy of the notice of administrative revocation issued to the respondent;

(3) Any license taken into possession; and

(4) A listing of all alcohol and drug enforcement contacts involving the respondent. [L 2000, c 189, pt of §23; am L 2001, c 157, §17; am L 2002, c 113, §3; am L 2004, c 90, §10; am L 2006, c 64, §5; am L 2012, c 327, §13]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-6 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-6
Safe routes to school advisory committee.
Status: in_force

(a) There is established within the planning branch of the highways division of the department of transportation for administrative purposes a safe routes to school advisory committee to advise the State on strategies to ensure that each child in the State is able to safely bike, walk, or roll to school.

(b) The safe routes to school advisory committee shall:

(1) Develop a comprehensive, statewide safe routes to school plan that shall include:

(A) Goals, strategies, and performance metrics that ensure accountability for improving safety, active transportation mode share, community investment in supportive programming, and infrastructure quality, pursuant to sections 286-7.5 and 264-142;

(B) Methods to ensure stability and consistency of the safe routes to school program special fund that shall provide for infrastructure projects and continuity of existing programmatic (non-infrastructure) work;

(C) Recommendations to streamline and facilitate efforts by communities to apply for and implement projects pursuant to sections 286-7.5, 264-142, and 291C-3; and

(D) Identification of, and recommendations for, additional funding, planning, and programming that are inclusive and equitable pursuant to sections 286-7.5 and 264-142;

(2) Beginning July 1, 2024, ensure distribution of moneys accrued in the safe routes to school program special fund, prioritizing continuity of existing programming;

(3) Beginning July 1, 2024, review project proposals and select priority projects within one mile of any school or place of learning, pursuant to sections 286-7.5, 264-142, and 291C-3, to be funded through the safe routes to school program or otherwise be prioritized and implemented by the department;

(4) Submit annual reports on the activities and recommendations of the safe routes to school program to the governor and legislature no later than December 31 of each year; and

(5) Meet no less than monthly.

(c) The safe routes to school advisory committee shall consist of the following members or their designees:

(1) One member to be appointed by the president of the senate and one member to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, who shall chair the advisory committee annually on a rotating basis;

(2) The department of transportation's safe routes to school program coordinator;

(3) The deputy director of the department of transportation's highways division;

(4) One member representing the physical activity and nutrition section of the department of health's chronic disease prevention and health promotion division;

(5) The superintendent of education;

(6) The co-chairs of the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission;

(7) One member representing the Hawaii state energy office;

(8) One member representing the Hawaii state council on developmental disabilities;

(9) One member representing each county agency with jurisdiction over transportation;

(10) One member representing an organization with a focus on bicycling to be appointed by the governor, pursuant to section 26-34, for a three-year term;

(11) One member representing an organization with a focus on senior citizens and their families to be appointed by the governor, pursuant to section 26-34, for a three-year term;

(12) One member representing an organization that understands the ways families with young children navigate through the State to be appointed by the governor, pursuant to section 26-34, for a three-year term;

(13) One member representing an organization with a focus on public health and mobility to be appointed by the governor, pursuant to section 26-34, for a three-year term;

(14) One member representing an organization with a focus on transportation equity and mobility to be appointed by the governor, pursuant to section 26-34, for a three-year term; and

(15) The chairs of the house of representatives standing committee and the senate standing committee with primary jurisdiction over transportation, who shall serve as non-voting, ex-officio members.

The chair of the committee may request the participation or input of members of the public; experts in the field; and county, state, or federal officials or others as necessary.

(d) Members of the safe routes to school advisory committee shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

(e) No member of the safe routes to school advisory committee shall be subject to chapter 84 solely because of the member's service on the committee. [L 2023, c 244, §2; am L 2025, c 21, §8]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291E-39 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291E / Section 291E-39
Fees and costs.
Status: in_force

The director may assess and collect a $30 fee from the respondent to cover the costs of processing the respondent's request for an administrative hearing. These costs include but shall not be limited to: the cost of photocopying documents; conditional license permits, temporary permits, and relicensing forms; interpreter services; and other similar costs; provided that the costs of issuing subpoenas for witnesses, including mileage fees, shall be borne by the party requesting the subpoena. The director may waive the fee in the case of an indigent respondent, upon an appropriate inquiry into the financial circumstances of the respondent seeking the waiver and an affidavit or a certificate signed by the respondent demonstrating the respondent's financial inability to pay the fee.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-103 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-103
Racing on highways.
Status: in_force

(a) Except as provided in section 291C-149, no person shall drive any vehicle in any race, speed competition or contest, drag race or acceleration contest, test of physical endurance, exhibition of speed or acceleration, or for the purpose of making a speed record, and no person shall in any manner participate in any race, competition, contest, test, or exhibition prohibited by this section.

(b) Any person who violates this section, except in the case of an exhibition of speed or acceleration, shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. Any person who violates this section by way of an exhibition of speed or acceleration shall be fined not more than $500 or be sentenced to perform community service, or both.

(c) Any person who violates this section while operating a vehicle at a speed exceeding the posted speed limit by thirty miles per hour or more shall be subject to a fine of not more than $2,000, a term of imprisonment of not more than one year, or both; provided that the following additional penalties shall also apply:

(1) For an offense that occurs within five years of a prior conviction, a one-year license suspension;

(2) For an offense that occurs within five years of two prior convictions:

(A) A three-year license suspension; and

(B) A vehicle owned by the defendant and used in the commission of the offense which has been used in at least two prior offenses that resulted in convictions may be ordered by the court to be subject to forfeiture under chapter 712A; and

(3) For all offenses under this section, a surcharge of up to $100 may be deposited in the trauma system special fund if the court so orders.

(d) As used in this section:

"Drag race" means the operation of two or more vehicles from a point side by side at accelerating speeds in a competitive attempt to outdistance each other, or the operation of one or more vehicles over a common selected course, from the same point to the same point, for the purpose of comparing the relative speeds or power of acceleration of the vehicle or vehicles within a certain distance or time limit.

"Exhibition of speed or acceleration" means the sudden acceleration of a vehicle resulting in the screeching of the vehicle's tires that is done to intentionally draw the attention of persons present toward the vehicle.

"Racing" means the use of one or more vehicles in an attempt to outgain, outdistance, or prevent another vehicle from passing, to arrive at a given destination ahead of another vehicle or vehicles, or to test the physical stamina or endurance of drivers over long distance driving routes. [L 1971, c 150, pt of §1; am L 1984, c 273, §9; am L 1989, c 151, §1; am L 2002, c 261, §1; am L 2008, c 231, §14; am L 2020, c 70, §43]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291E-3 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291E / Section 291E-3
Evidence of intoxication.
Status: in_force

(a) In any criminal prosecution for a violation of section 291E-61 or 291E-61.5 or in any proceeding under part III:

(1) .08 or more grams of alcohol per one hundred milliliters or cubic centimeters of the person's blood;

(2) .08 or more grams of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of the person's breath; or

(3) The presence of one or more drugs in an amount sufficient to impair the person's ability to operate a vehicle in a careful and prudent manner,

within three hours after the time of the alleged violation as shown by chemical analysis or other approved analytical techniques of the person's blood, breath, or urine shall be competent evidence that the person was under the influence of an intoxicant at the time of the alleged violation.

(b) In any criminal prosecution for a violation of section 291E-61 or 291E-61.5, the amount of alcohol found in the defendant's blood or breath within three hours after the time of the alleged violation as shown by chemical analysis or other approved analytical techniques of the defendant's blood or breath shall be competent evidence concerning whether the defendant was under the influence of an intoxicant at the time of the alleged violation and shall give rise to the following presumptions:

(1) If there were .05 or less grams of alcohol per one hundred milliliters or cubic centimeters of defendant's blood or .05 or less grams of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of defendant's breath, it shall be presumed that the defendant was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the alleged violation; and

(2) If there were in excess of .05 grams of alcohol per one hundred milliliters or cubic centimeters of defendant's blood or .05 grams of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of defendant's breath, but less than .08 grams of alcohol per one hundred milliliters or cubic centimeters of defendant's blood or .08 grams of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of defendant's breath, that fact may be considered with other competent evidence in determining whether the defendant was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the alleged violation, but shall not of itself give rise to any presumption.

(c) In any criminal prosecution for a violation of section 291E-61 or in any proceeding under part III:

(1) .15 or more grams of alcohol per one hundred milliliters or cubic centimeters of the person's blood; or

(2) .15 or more grams of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of the person's breath,

within three hours after the time of the alleged violation as shown by chemical analysis or other approved analytical techniques of the person's blood or breath shall be competent evidence that the person was a highly intoxicated driver at the time of the alleged violation.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the introduction, in any criminal proceeding for a violation under section 291E-61 or 291E-61.5 or in any proceeding under part III, of relevant evidence of a person's alcohol concentration or drug content obtained more than three hours after an alleged violation; provided that the evidence is offered in compliance with the Hawaii rules of evidence. [L 2000, c 189, pt of §23; am L 2004, c 90, §3; am L 2007, c 198, §2; am L 2010, c 166, §6; am L 2021, c 216, §2]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-102.6 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-102.6
Provisional license for persons under the age of eighteen.
Status: in_force

(a) A person may be granted a provisional license to drive passenger cars of any gross vehicle weight rating, buses designed to transport fifteen or fewer occupants, and trucks and vans having a gross vehicle weight rating of fifteen thousand pounds or less if the person:

(1) Is at least sixteen years of age but under the age of eighteen;

(2) Holds an instruction permit and has held the permit for a period of at least one hundred eighty days and there is no pending proceeding that might result in the suspension or revocation of the instruction permit; and

(3) Satisfactorily completes all requirements of sections 286-108 and 286-109.

(b) The provisional license shall entitle the provisional licensee to drive the class of motor vehicles specified in subsection (a) upon the roadways of the State; provided that:

(1) The provisional licensee shall have the provisional license in the provisional licensee's immediate possession while driving;

(2) All occupants of the motor vehicle shall be restrained by safety belts or a child passenger restraint system as required under sections 291-11.5 and 291-11.6;

(3) The provisional licensee shall not transport more than one person under the age of eighteen, unless the person is, with respect to the provisional licensee:

(A) A household member; or

(B) A household member's foster or hanai child,

without being accompanied and supervised by a licensed driver who is the provisional licensee's parent or guardian; and

(4) Except as provided in subsection (c), whenever the provisional licensee is driving between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., a licensed driver who is the provisional licensee's parent or guardian and is licensed to operate the same category of motor vehicle as the licensee, shall be in the motor vehicle and shall occupy the passenger seat beside the licensee.

(c) A provisional licensee may drive between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. without a licensed parent or guardian in the motor vehicle under the following conditions:

(1) The provisional licensee is traveling to or from the provisional licensee's place of employment, operation of the motor vehicle is necessary for this purpose, and the provisional licensee keeps in the provisional licensee's possession a signed statement from the employer containing the employer's name, address, telephone number, and verification of employment and work hours; or

(2) The provisional licensee is traveling to or from a school-authorized activity of the provisional licensee, operation of a motor vehicle is necessary for this purpose, and the provisional licensee keeps in the provisional licensee's possession a signed statement from a parent or guardian containing the parent's or guardian's name, address, and telephone number, and verification that operation of the motor vehicle by the provisional licensee is necessary to travel to or from the school-authorized activity;

provided that the provisional licensee shall not transport more than one person under the age of eighteen between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. without being accompanied and supervised by a licensed driver who is the provisional licensee's parent or guardian.

(d) If the provisional licensee violates any of the requirements of subsection (b) or (c):

(1) For a first violation of any requirement, the provisional license shall be suspended for a period of three months by a district court or family court judge. If the person's provisional license is suspended, the person shall not be eligible for reissuance of the provisional license or issuance of a driver's license until:

(A) The person is eighteen years of age; or

(B) Three months have elapsed since the date of suspension,

whichever is sooner, and the person has otherwise satisfied the requirements of this chapter; and

(2) For a second or any subsequent violation of any requirement, the provisional license shall be revoked for six months by a district court or family court judge. If the person's provisional license is revoked, the person shall not be eligible for reissuance of the provisional license or issuance of a driver's license until:

(A) The person is eighteen years of age; or

(B) Six months have elapsed since the date of revocation,

whichever is sooner, and the person has otherwise satisfied the requirements of this chapter.

Suspension or revocation of a provisional license pursuant to this subsection shall be exempt from proof of financial responsibility requirements under section 287-20.

(e) If the provisional licensee is adjudicated of an offense relating to the operation of a motor vehicle other than the requirements of subsection (b) or (c):

(1) For a first adjudication, the provisional license shall be suspended or revoked by a district court or family court judge, in addition to any other penalties that may be prescribed by law. If the person's provisional license is suspended or revoked, the person shall not be eligible for reissuance of the provisional license or issuance of a driver's license until:

(A) The person is eighteen years of age; or

(B) Six months have elapsed since the date of suspension or revocation,

whichever is sooner, and the person has otherwise satisfied the requirements of this chapter; and

(2) For a second or any subsequent adjudication, the provisional license shall be revoked for one year by a district court or family court judge, in addition to any other penalties that may be prescribed by law. If the person's provisional license is revoked, the person shall not be eligible for reissuance of the provisional license or issuance of a driver's license until:

(A) The person is eighteen years of age; or

(B) One year has elapsed since the date of revocation,

whichever is later, and the person has otherwise satisfied the requirements of this chapter.

(f) A provisional licensee may be issued a driver's license in accordance with this chapter if the provisional licensee:

(1) Has satisfactorily held a provisional license for at least six months or has attained the age of eighteen, whichever comes first;

(2) Has no pending proceeding that might result in the suspension or revocation of the license;

(3) Is at least seventeen years of age; and

(4) Has satisfactorily complied with all requirements of this chapter.

(g) If not suspended or revoked, the provisional license shall expire on the date of the provisional licensee's nineteenth birthday.

(h) The fee for a provisional license shall be set in accordance with section 286‑111.

(i) This section shall not apply to the licensing of:

(1) An emancipated minor; and

(2) Motorcycle or motor scooter drivers.

(j) For the purposes of this section, "household member" shall have the same meaning as defined in section 291E-1.

(k) Notwithstanding any other provisions, for the purposes of this section, the district court and family court shall notify the driver's license examiner of all persons under the age of eighteen who have pending violations or proceedings that might result in the suspension or revocation of the provisional license, and any pending adjudication of an offense relating to the operation of a motor vehicle. [L 2005, c 72, §§1, 15; am L 2006, c 105, §1; am L 2007, c 74, §1; am L 2010, c 85, §§1, 2]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-42 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-42
Passing vehicles proceeding in opposite directions.
Status: in_force

Drivers of vehicles proceeding in opposite directions shall pass each other to the right, and upon roadways having width for not more than one line of traffic in each direction each driver shall give to the other at least one-half of the main-traveled portion of the roadway as nearly as possible.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-204 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-204
Accounts, records, and reports.
Status: in_force

(a) The director may require annual, periodic, or special reports from all motor carriers, prescribe the manner and form in which the reports shall be made, and require from the carriers specific and full, true, and correct answers to all questions which the director may deem necessary for the safety regulation of motor carrier vehicles.

(b) The director may prescribe the forms of any and all records and memoranda to be maintained by motor carriers as related to safety of motor carrier operations. The director or the director's duly authorized representative shall at all reasonable times and places have access to and authority, under the director's or representative's order, to inspect and examine any and all equipment of motor carriers and shall have authority to inspect and copy any and all books, records, memoranda, and other documents as are related to the safety of motor carrier operations.

(c) Each motor carrier operating vehicles in the State shall keep all records and reports required by this section at an office or place of business located within the State. [L Sp 1977 1st, c 20, pt of §1; gen ch 1985]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-32 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-32
Traffic-control signal legend.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting different colored lights, or colored lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors green, red, and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian signals carrying a word or symbol legend, and the lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:

(1) Green indication:

(A) Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless prohibited by a sign at the place. But vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time the signal is exhibited.

(B) Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by the arrow or to make other movement that is permitted by other indications shown at the same time. The vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

(C) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in section 291C-33, pedestrians facing any green signal, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.

(2) Steady yellow indication:

(A) Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow signal is thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter when vehicular traffic shall not enter the intersection.

(B) Pedestrians facing a steady yellow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in section 291C-33, are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown and no pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway.

(3) Steady red indication:

(A) Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line or, if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown, except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C).

(B) The driver of a vehicle that is stopped in obedience to a steady red indication may make a right turn but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic proceeding as directed by the signal at the intersection, except that counties by ordinance may prohibit any right turn against a steady red indication, which ordinance shall be effective when a sign is erected at the intersection giving notice thereof.

(C) The driver of a vehicle on a one-way street that intersects another one-way street on which traffic moves to the left shall stop in obedience to a steady red indication but may then make a left turn into the one-way street, but shall yield right-of-way to pedestrians proceeding as directed by the signal at the intersection, except that counties by ordinance may prohibit any left turn against a steady red indication, which ordinance shall be effective when a sign is erected at the intersection giving notice thereof.

(D) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in section 291C-33, pedestrians facing a steady red signal alone shall not enter the roadway.

(b) In the event an official traffic-control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this section shall be applicable except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any such sign or marking the stop shall be made at the signal.

(c) Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting different colored lights, or colored lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, and actively monitored by an official photo red light imaging detector system, all registered owners of all motor vehicles in vehicular traffic at the intersection shall be held strictly liable for the motor vehicle's compliance with the traffic-control signal, to the extent that registered owners may be cited and held accountable for non-compliance via civil traffic infractions pursuant to chapter 291J. The traffic-control signal lights shall apply to the registered owners of motor vehicles as follows:

(1) Steady red indication:

(A) Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line or, if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown, except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C).

(B) Vehicular traffic that is stopped in obedience to a steady red indication may make a right turn but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic proceeding as directed by the signal at the intersection, except that counties by ordinance may prohibit any right turn against a steady red indication, which ordinance shall be effective when a sign is erected at the intersection giving notice thereof.

(C) Vehicular traffic on a one-way street that intersects another one-way street on which traffic moves to the left shall stop in obedience to a steady red indication but may then make a left turn into the one-way street, but shall yield right-of-way to pedestrians proceeding as directed by the signal at the intersection, except that counties by ordinance may prohibit any left turn against a steady red indication, which ordinance shall be effective when a sign is erected at the intersection giving notice thereof.

(2) To the extent a registered owner's motor vehicle fails to comply with any other law or ordinance related to traffic-control signals, including subsection (a)(1) or (2), the registered owner of a motor vehicle shall not be held strictly liable unless otherwise provided by law.

(d) For purposes of this section, a pedestrian is lawfully within an intersection or adjacent crosswalk when any part or extension of the pedestrian, including any part of the pedestrian's body, wheelchair, cane, crutch, or bicycle, is beyond the curb or the edges of the traversable roadway or moves onto the roadway within an intersection or crosswalk. [L 1971, c 150, pt of §1; am L 1981, c 190, §1; am L 2019, c 132, §2; am L 2020, c 30, §3; am L 2022, c 124, §1; am L 2023, c 17, §7]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291E-37 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291E / Section 291E-37
Administrative review; procedures; decision.
Status: in_force

(a) The director shall automatically review the issuance of a notice of administrative revocation and shall issue a written decision administratively revoking the license and privilege to operate a vehicle or rescinding the notice of administrative revocation. The written review decision shall be mailed to the respondent, or to the parent or guardian of the respondent if the respondent is under the age of eighteen, no later than:

(1) Fourteen days after the date the notice was issued in a case involving an alcohol related offense; or

(2) Twenty-eight days after the date the notice was issued in a case involving a drug related offense.

(b) The respondent shall have the opportunity to demonstrate in writing why the respondent's license and privilege to operate a vehicle should not be administratively revoked and, within three days of receiving the notice of administrative revocation, as provided in section 291E-33, shall submit any written information, either by mail or in person, to the director's office or to any office or address designated by the director for that purpose.

(c) In conducting the administrative review, the director shall consider:

(1) Any sworn or unsworn written statement or other written evidence provided by the respondent;

(2) The breath, blood, or urine test results, if any; and

(3) The sworn statement of any law enforcement officer or other person or other evidence or information required by section 291E-36.

(d) The director shall administratively revoke the respondent's license and privilege to operate a vehicle if the director determines that:

(1) There existed reasonable suspicion to stop the vehicle, the vehicle was stopped at an intoxicant control roadblock established and operated in compliance with sections 291E-19 and 291E-20, or the person was tested pursuant to section 291E-21;

(2) There existed probable cause to believe that the respondent operated the vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant; and

(3) The evidence proves by a preponderance that:

(A) The respondent operated the vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant; or

(B) The respondent operated the vehicle and refused to submit to a breath, blood, or urine test after being informed:

(i) That the person may refuse to submit to testing in compliance with section 291E-11; and

(ii) Of the sanctions of this part and then asked if the person still refuses to submit to a breath, blood, or urine test, in compliance with the requirements of section 291E-15.

(e) If the evidence does not support administrative revocation, the director shall rescind the notice of administrative revocation and return the respondent's license along with a certified statement that administrative revocation proceedings have been terminated.

(f) If the director administratively revokes the respondent's license and privilege to operate a vehicle, the director shall mail a written review decision to the respondent, or to the parent or guardian of the respondent if the respondent is under the age of eighteen. The written review decision shall:

(1) State the reasons for the administrative revocation;

(2) Indicate that the respondent has six days from the date the decision is mailed to request an administrative hearing to review the director's decision;

(3) Explain the procedure by which to request an administrative hearing;

(4) Be accompanied by a form, postage prepaid, that the respondent may fill out and mail in order to request an administrative hearing;

(5) Inform the respondent of the right to review and copy all documents considered at the review, including the arrest report and the sworn statements of law enforcement officers or other persons, prior to the hearing; and

(6) State that the respondent may be represented by counsel at the hearing, submit evidence, give testimony, and present and cross-examine witnesses, including the arresting law enforcement officer.

(g) Failure of the respondent to request a hearing within the time provided in section 291E-38(a) shall cause the administrative revocation to take effect for the period and under the conditions provided in the administrative review decision issued by the director under this section. The respondent may regain the right to an administrative hearing by requesting the director, within sixty days of the issuance of the notice of administrative revocation as provided in section 291E-33, to schedule an administrative hearing. The administrative hearing shall be scheduled to commence no later than thirty days after the request is received by the director. The administrative review decision issued by the director under this section shall explain clearly the consequences of failure to request an administrative hearing and the procedure by which the respondent may regain the right to a hearing. [L 2000, c 189, pt of §23; am L 2001, c 157, §18; am L 2006, c 64, §6; am L 2012, c 327, §14; am L 2025, c 146, §2]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291-11.5 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291 / Section 291-11.5
Child passenger restraints.
Status: in_force

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person operating a motor vehicle on a public highway in the State shall transport a child under ten years of age except under the following circumstances:

(1) If the child is under two years of age, the person operating the motor vehicle shall ensure that the child is properly restrained in a rear-facing child passenger restraint system with harness that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards at the time of its manufacture;

(2) If the child is two years of age or older, but less than four years of age, the person operating the motor vehicle shall ensure that the child is properly restrained in a rear-facing or forward-facing child passenger restraint system with harness that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards at the time of its manufacture;

(3) If the child is four years of age or older but less than ten years of age, the person operating the motor vehicle shall ensure that the child is properly restrained in a child passenger restraint system with harness or booster seat that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards at the time of its manufacture; except as provided in paragraph (4); or

(4) If the child is seven years of age or older but less than ten years of age, the person operating the motor vehicle shall be exempt from restraining the child in a child passenger restraint system with harness or booster seat that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards at the time of manufacture if the child is correctly restrained by a lap and shoulder seat belt assembly; provided that the child is over four feet and nine inches in height.

(b) Operators of the following motor vehicles shall be exempt from the requirements of this section: emergency, commercial, and mass transit vehicles. Further exemptions from this section may be established by the department of transportation pursuant to rules adopted under chapter 91.

(c) Violation of this section shall be considered an offense as defined under section 701-107(5) and shall subject the violator to the following penalties:

(1) For a first conviction, the person shall:

(A) Be fined not more than $100;

(B) Be required by the court to attend a child passenger restraint system safety class approved by the judiciary's division of driver education; provided that:

(i) The class may include video conferences as determined by the administrator of the division of driver education as an alternative method of education; and

(ii) The class shall not exceed four hours;

(C) Pay a $50 driver education assessment as provided in section 286G-3;

(D) Pay a $10 surcharge to be deposited into the neurotrauma special fund; and

(E) Pay up to a $10 surcharge to be deposited into the trauma system special fund if the court so orders;

(2) For a conviction of a second offense committed within three years of any other conviction under this section, the person shall:

(A) Be fined not less than $250 but not more than $500;

(B) Be required by the court to attend a child passenger restraint system safety class not to exceed four hours in length approved by the judiciary's division of driver education if the person has not previously attended such a class;

(C) Pay a $50 driver education assessment as provided in section 286G-3 if the person has not previously attended a child passenger restraint system safety class approved by the judiciary's division of driver education;

(D) Pay a $10 surcharge to be deposited into the neurotrauma special fund; and

(E) Pay up to a $10 surcharge to be deposited into the trauma system special fund if the court so orders; and

(3) For a conviction of a third or subsequent offense committed within three years of any other conviction under this section, the person shall:

(A) Be fined not less than $500 but not more than $800;

(B) Be required by the court to attend a child passenger restraint system safety class not to exceed four hours in length approved by the judiciary's division of driver education if the person has not previously attended such a class;

(C) Pay a $50 driver education assessment as provided in section 286G-3 if the person has not previously attended a child passenger restraint system safety class approved by the judiciary's division of driver education;

(D) Pay a $10 surcharge to be deposited into the neurotrauma special fund; and

(E) Pay up to a $10 surcharge to be deposited into the trauma system special fund if the court so orders.

(d) As used in this section:

"Commercial vehicle" means any motor vehicle that is being used for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit.

"Emergency vehicle", "mass transit vehicle", "restrained", and "seat belt assembly" shall have the same meaning as provided in section 291-11.6. [L 1983, c 282, §1; am L 1989, c 30, §1; am L 1998, c 81, §3; am L 1999, c 18, §4 and c 56, §2; am L 2002, c 160, §5; am L 2005, c 74, §1; am L 2006, c 175, §2; am L 2008, c 231, §4; am L 2011, c 43, §7; am L 2020, c 70, §38; am L 2022, c 122, §1]

Revision Note

The amendment made by L 2011, c 43, §7, to add the word "and" at the end of subsection (e)(1)(E) is deleted; "and" added at end of subsection (e)(2)(E).
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 287-15 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 287 / Section 287-15
Report of nonpayment of judgments.
Status: in_force

Whenever any person fails within sixty days to satisfy any judgment upon the written request of the judgment creditor or the judgment creditor's attorney, the clerk of the court or the judge of a court which has no clerk in which any such judgment is rendered shall forward to the administrator immediately after the expiration of the sixty days a certified copy of the judgment. If the defendant named in any certified copy of a judgment reported to the administrator is a nonresident, the administrator shall transmit a certified copy of the judgment to the official in charge of the issuance of licenses and registration certificates of the state of which the defendant is a resident.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-103 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-103
Restrictions on driver's license; rules and regulations.
Status: in_force

The examiner of drivers may adopt rules and regulations restricting the use of a driver's license in any manner the examiner of drivers may deem necessary for the safety and welfare of the traveling public and may impose restrictions with respect to the type of equipment or special mechanical control devices required on the motor vehicle operated by the licensee appropriate to the driving ability of the licensee. Any restrictions shall be indicated on the license issued.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291-18 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291 / Section 291-18
[ §291-18] Intentional release of exhaust emissions prohibited; penalty.
Status: in_force

[ §291-18] Intentional release of exhaust emissions prohibited; penalty. (a) No person shall cause a diesel- or gas-powered vehicle to discharge clearly visible smoke, soot, or other exhaust emissions onto another person or motor vehicle when modifications to a vehicle's parts are adjusted to bypass pollution controls, or the vehicle is equipped with defeat devices, including electronic programmers or tuners to adjust fuel and timing settings while also turning off certain emission controls that are designed to inhibit the release of visible exhaust.

(b) This section shall not apply to:

(1) Drag racing events that are organized by government or private entities and either sanctioned by an official hot rod association or held on a track sanctioned by an official hot rod association;

(2) Military events;

(3) Community events; and

(4) Parade events.

(c) Any person who violates this section shall be fined no less than $500. [L 2023, c 223, §1]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 287-11 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 287 / Section 287-11
Form and amount of security.
Status: in_force

The security required under this chapter shall be in such form and in such amount as the administrator may require but in no case in excess of the limits specified in section 287-7 in reference to the acceptable limits of a policy or bond. The person depositing security shall specify in writing the person or persons on whose behalf a deposit is made and, at any time while the deposit is in the custody of the administrator or the treasurer or director of finance of the county, the person depositing it may, in writing, amend the specification of the person or persons on whose behalf deposit is made to include an additional person or persons; provided that a single deposit of security shall be applicable only on behalf of persons required to furnish security because of the same accident.

The administrator may reduce the amount of security ordered in any case within six months after the date of the accident, if in the administrator's judgment the amount ordered is excessive and the excess deposited over the reduced amount ordered shall be returned to the depositor or the depositor's personal representative forthwith notwithstanding section 287-12. [L 1949, c 393, pt of §1; RL 1955, §160-90; HRS §287-11; am L 1980, c 84, pt of §1; gen ch 1985]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 290-11 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 290 / Section 290-11
Vehicles left unattended on private and public property; sale or disposition of abandoned vehicles.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any vehicle left unattended on private or public property without authorization of the owner or occupant of the property, may be towed away at the expense of the vehicle owner, by order of the owner, occupant, or person in charge of the property; provided that there is posted a notice prohibiting vehicles to park on the property without authorization. The notice shall clearly state, in not less than two-inch high, light reflective letters on a contrasting background, that the vehicle parked without authorization will be towed and held at the expense of the vehicle owner, as well as the name, address, and a telephone number of the facility where the vehicle will be towed and held. The notice shall be of such size and be placed in a location that is clearly visible to the driver of a vehicle approaching any individual marked or unmarked parking space; provided that where an entire parking lot consists of restricted parking spaces, placement of the notice at each entrance of the parking lot shall suffice.

(b) Towing companies engaged by the owner, occupant, or person in charge of the property shall:

(1) Charge not more than $75 for a tow, or $85 for a tow using a dolly, plus a mileage charge of $7.50 per mile towed and $25 per day or fraction thereof for storage for the first seven days and $20 per day thereafter. In the case of a difficult hookup, a towing surcharge of $30 shall apply. When the tow occurs between the hours of six o'clock p.m. and six o'clock a.m., from Monday through Thursday and from six o'clock p.m. Friday to six o'clock a.m. Monday, the towing company shall be entitled to an overtime charge of $15. The charges listed in this paragraph shall be the only charges tow companies are authorized to charge vehicle owners; provided that if the tow involves an overturned vehicle, the towing company shall be entitled to an additional charge of no more than $35. For purposes of this paragraph, "difficult hookup" shall mean an above or below ground hookup in a multilevel facility;

(2) If the vehicle is in the process of being hooked up, meaning up to the point when the tow truck is driving away, and the vehicle owner appears on the scene, the tow company shall release the vehicle to the vehicle owner at a location that ensures the safety of all persons and property involved, regardless of whether the release occurs on the scene or if the vehicle must be removed from the scene to be safely released; provided that no fee will be charged to the vehicle owner under this paragraph;

(3) Determine the name of the legal owner and the last registered owner of the vehicle from the department of transportation or the county department of finance. The legal owner and the last registered owner shall be notified in writing at the address on record with the department of transportation or with the county department of finance by registered or certified mail of the location of the vehicle, together with a description of the vehicle, within a reasonable period not to exceed fifteen days following the tow. The notice shall state:

(A) The maximum towing charges and fees allowed by law;

(B) The telephone number of the consumer information service of the department of commerce and consumer affairs; and

(C) That if the vehicle is not recovered within thirty days after the mailing of the notice, the vehicle shall be deemed abandoned and will be sold or disposed of as junk.

Where the legal owner and the last registered owner have not been notified pursuant to this paragraph, the vehicle may be recovered by the vehicle owner from the towing company without paying tow or storage fees. The notice need not be sent to a legal owner or last registered owner or any person with an unrecorded interest in the vehicle whose name or address cannot be determined. Absent evidence to the contrary, a notice shall be deemed received by the legal owner or last registered owner five days after the mailing;

(4) Provide, when a vehicle is recovered by the vehicle owner the vehicle owner with a receipt stating:

(A) The maximum towing charges and fees allowed by law; and

(B) The telephone number of the consumer information service of the department of commerce and consumer affairs; and

(5) Accept payment by the vehicle owner for charges under paragraph (1) by cash, credit card, and debit card; provided that no towing company shall direct an individual to use an on-site automated teller machine in lieu of accepting payment by credit card and debit card.

(c) When a vehicle is not recovered within thirty days after the mailing of the notice, it shall be deemed abandoned and the owner of the towing company, or the owner of the towing company's authorized representative, after one public advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the State, may negotiate a sale of the vehicle or dispose of it as junk.

(d) The authorized seller of the vehicle shall be entitled to the proceeds of the sale to the extent that compensation is due the authorized seller for services rendered in respect to the vehicle, including reasonable and customary charges for towing, handling, storage, and the cost of the notices and advertising required by this part. Any remaining balance shall be forwarded to the legal owner or last registered owner of the vehicle if the legal owner or last registered owner can be found. If the legal owner or last registered owner cannot be found at the address on record at the department of transportation or the county department of finance, the balance shall be deposited with the State's unclaimed property program administered by the department of budget and finance and shall be paid out to the legal owner or last registered owner of the vehicle if a proper claim is filed therefor within one year from the execution of the sales agreement. If no claim is made within the year allowed, the money shall become a state realization.

(e) The transfer of title and interest by sale under this part is a transfer by operation of law, pursuant to the requirements under section 286-52(f).

(f) Notwithstanding any law or ordinance to the contrary, including subsection (h) and section 46-20.5, any towing company engaged in towing in a county with a population greater than five hundred thousand shall offer towing services to consumers twenty-four hours per day every day of the week. The towing services shall include the release of vehicles kept in storage to an insurer, vehicle owner or a designated representative.

(g) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be deemed to have:

(1) Engaged in an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the conduct of any trade or commerce within the meaning of section 480-2 and subject to penalties and remedies under chapter 480; and

(2) Furnished services without a license within the meaning of section 487-13 and subject to penalties and remedies under chapter 487.

(h) This section shall not apply to a county that has adopted ordinances regulating towing operations.

(i) As used in this section:

"Hooked up" means completely and securely attached and fastened to the tow truck by means of clamps, couplings, straps, tow bars, and other mechanical devices that are specifically designed to prevent the vehicle from dropping off or detaching from the tow truck in any way or otherwise shifting in any manner.

"Scene" means the location of the vehicle while it is in the process of being hooked up, or the location where it was hooked up, and anywhere within a fifty foot radius of that location.

"Vehicle owner" means any person, other than the towing company, who has possession of or any other interest in the vehicle, including but not limited to the legal or last registered owner of the vehicle, the insurance company insuring the vehicle, the person renting the vehicle pursuant to chapter 437D or any other law authorizing a person to operate the vehicle, or any person in possession of the key or remote keyless ignition system device to the vehicle.

"Vehicle parked without authorization" means any vehicle left unattended on private or public property that is not parked in compliance with the notice required by subsection (a). "Vehicle parked without authorization" shall not include:

(1) A vehicle otherwise parked in compliance with the notice required by subsection (a) where the vehicle owner has prepaid for parking and placed a payment receipt, placard, or permit anywhere on or in the vehicle and the payment receipt, placard, or permit is visible from outside the vehicle; or

(2) A vehicle otherwise parked in compliance with the notice required by subsection (a) where the vehicle owner has received authorization from an owner, occupant, or person in charge of the property and placed the placard, permit, or written authorization, if any, anywhere on or in the vehicle and the placard, permit, or written authorization is visible from the outside of the vehicle. [L 1973, c 148, pt of §1; am L 1976, c 91, §1; am L 1977, c 122, §1; am L 1980, c 172, §1 and c 232, §14; am L 1981, c 82, §20 and c 96, §1; am L 1985, c 180, §1; gen ch 1985; am L 1990, c 165, §2; am L 1991, c 65, §3 and c 144, §1; am L 1992, c 224, §1; am L 1998, c 138, §§1, 3; am L 1999, c 259, §§1, 3; am L 2000, c 260, §2; am L 2001, c 7, §2; am L 2002, c 59, §1; am L 2003, c 84, §3; am L 2007, c 269, §3; am L 2008, c 135, §1; am L 2010, c 122, §2; am L 2020, c 41, §2; am L 2024, c 60, §1]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 290-10 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 290 / Section 290-10
Disposition of unclaimed vehicle.
Status: in_force

Whenever a county ordinance authorizes the police or other agency designated by the mayor of the county to remove and store vehicles, a vehicle removed and stored under authority of such ordinance may be deemed to have been abandoned for the purposes of this chapter if not claimed within twenty-four hours by a person entitled to possession. Such vehicle may be disposed of in accordance with this chapter for the disposition of abandoned vehicles.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-244 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-244
Notification of traffic convictions.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever a person who holds a commercial driver's license or a commercial learner's permit from another state is convicted of a violation of any state or county law relating to motor vehicle traffic control, other than a parking violation, in any type of vehicle, the examiner of drivers shall notify the licensing or permitting entity in the state where the driver is licensed or permitted of this conviction within the time period specified in subsection (c).

(b) Whenever a person who does not hold a commercial driver's license or a commercial learner's permit but is licensed to drive by another state is convicted of a violation in a commercial motor vehicle of any state or county law relating to motor vehicle traffic control, other than a parking violation, the examiner of drivers shall notify the licensing entity in the state where the driver is licensed of this conviction within the time period specified in subsection (c).

(c) The notification of a traffic violation conviction shall be made within thirty days of the conviction. Beginning on September 30, 2008, the notification shall be made within ten days of the conviction. [L 1989, c 320, pt of §2; am L 1990, c 342, §13; am L 2004, c 103, §10; am L 2013, c 114, §14]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-18 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-18
False reports.
Status: in_force

No person shall give information in oral or written reports as required in this part or in chapter 287 knowing or having reason to believe that such information is false.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-92 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-92
All vehicles must stop at certain railroad grade crossings.
Status: in_force

The director of transportation and the counties are authorized to designate particularly dangerous highway grade crossings of railroads and to erect stop signs thereat. When such stop signs are erected, the driver of any vehicle shall stop within fifty feet but not less than fifteen feet from the nearest rail of such railroad and shall proceed only if no train is approaching. If a train is approaching, and is approximately within fifteen hundred feet of the crossing, the driver must not proceed until after the train has passed.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 288-6 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 288 / Section 288-6
Bond prerequisite to license.
Status: in_force

No license shall be issued in any county under section 445-222 unless and until the applicant therefor deposits with the treasurer or director of finance of the county a policy of insurance or a bond as hereinabove described.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-123 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-123
Record of conviction forwarded to examiner of drivers.
Status: in_force

The record of any conviction resulting in the revocation or suspension of any person's license for a violation of this part or any traffic law or regulation of the State or county shall be forwarded by the court to the examiner of drivers of the county in which the court is located.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-210 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-210
Operation of a motor carrier vehicle without a safety inspection decal.
Status: in_force

Whoever operates, permits the operation of, causes to be operated, or parks any motor carrier vehicle on a public highway without a current motor carrier vehicle safety inspection decal, issued under section 286-209, shall be fined $100 for each day of the violation. [L Sp 1977 1st, c 20, pt of §1; am L 1993, c 214, §9]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-108.4 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-108.4
Driver education and behind-the-wheel driver training program.
Status: in_force

[§286-108.4 Driver education and behind-the-wheel driver training program.] The director of transportation is directed to establish and certify a statewide driver education program and behind-the-wheel driver training program, to include the number of course hours, curriculum, and certification of teachers and third-party examiners. The director of transportation is also directed to set a cost for the programs to enable the programs to be self-sufficient. The director of transportation shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 necessary for the purposes of this [section].

Revision Note

Section codified pursuant to §23G-15.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-62 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-62
Vehicle turning.
Status: in_force

The driver of a vehicle intending to turn within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle, bicycle, or person approaching from the opposite direction or proceeding in the same direction when such vehicle, bicycle, or person is within the intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-152 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-152
Riding on motorcycles.
Status: in_force

(a) A person operating a motorcycle shall ride only upon the permanent and regular seat attached thereto, and such operator shall not carry any other person nor shall any other person ride on a motorcycle unless the motorcycle is designed to carry more than one person, in which event a passenger may ride upon the permanent and regular seat if designed for two persons, or upon another seat firmly attached to the motorcycle at the rear or side of the operator.

(b) A person shall ride upon a motorcycle, except for an autocycle, only while sitting astride the seat, facing forward, with one leg on each side of the motorcycle. A person shall ride upon an autocycle only while sitting in the seat and facing forward.

(c) No person shall operate a motorcycle while carrying any package, bundle, or other article which prevents the person from keeping both hands on the handlebars or, for an autocycle, on the steering wheel.

(d) No operator shall carry any person, nor shall any person ride, in a position that will interfere with the operation or control of the motorcycle or the view of the operator. [L 1971, c 150, pt of §1; gen ch 1985; am L 2017, c 216, §3]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291-12 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291 / Section 291-12
Inattention to driving.
Status: in_force

Whoever operates any vehicle negligently as to cause a collision with, or injury or damage to, as the case may be, any person, vehicle or other property shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both, and may be subject to a surcharge of up to $100, which shall be deposited into the trauma system special fund.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291E-62 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291E / Section 291E-62
Operating a vehicle after license and privilege have been suspended or revoked for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant; penalties.
Status: in_force

(a) No person whose license and privilege to operate a vehicle have been revoked, suspended, or otherwise restricted pursuant to this section, part III, section 291E-61 or 291E-61.5, or part VII or part XIV of chapter 286 or section 200-81, 291-4, 291-4.4, 291-4.5, or 291-7 as those provisions were in effect on December 31, 2001, shall operate or assume actual physical control of any vehicle:

(1) In violation of any restrictions placed on the person's license;

(2) While the person's license or privilege to operate a vehicle remains suspended or revoked;

(3) Without installing an ignition interlock device required by this chapter; or

(4) With an ignition interlock permit unless the person has the ignition interlock permit and government-issued identification in the person's immediate possession. For purposes of this paragraph, "government-issued identification" means:

(A) A passport issued by the United States of America; or

(B) A photo identification card issued by any federal, state, or local government.

(b) No person who has been issued a notice of administrative revocation that serves as a temporary permit by a law enforcement officer, pursuant to section 291E-33, shall operate or assume actual physical control of any vehicle after the expiration of the temporary permit unless that person has an otherwise valid driver's license. No person charged with violating this section shall be convicted if the person produces in court, or proves from the proper official or other records, that the person was the holder of a valid driver's license at the time of the offense.

(c) [Repeal and reenactment on June 30, 2028. L 2023, c 148, §8(2).] Any person convicted of violating this section shall be sentenced as follows without possibility of probation or suspension of sentence:

(1) For a first offense, or any offense not preceded within a ten-year period by conviction for an offense under this section, section 291E-66, or section 291-4.5 as that section was in effect on December 31, 2001:

(A) A term of imprisonment of no less than three consecutive days and no more than thirty days;

(B) A fine of no less than $250 and no more than $1,000, to be deposited into the drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory special fund; and

(C) Revocation of license and privilege to operate a vehicle for an additional year;

(2) For an offense that occurs within ten years of a prior conviction for an offense under this section, section 291E-66, or section 291-4.5 as that section was in effect on December 31, 2001:

(A) Thirty days imprisonment;

(B) A $1,000 fine, to be deposited into the drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory special fund; and

(C) Revocation of license and privilege to operate a vehicle for an additional two years;

(3) For an offense that occurs within ten years of two or more prior convictions for offenses under this section, section 291E-66, or section 291-4.5 as that section was in effect on December 31, 2001, or any combination thereof:

(A) No less than six months and no more than one year imprisonment;

(B) A $2,000 fine, to be deposited into the drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory special fund; and

(C) Permanent revocation of the person's license and privilege to operate a vehicle; and

(4) In addition to a sentence imposed under paragraphs (1) through (3), any person who is convicted under this section and also convicted under section 291E-61 or 291E-61.5, for an offense based on the same incident or arising from the same episode, shall be sentenced to terms of imprisonment for both offenses, which shall be served consecutively.

(d) The applicable period of revocation in subsection (c) shall commence upon the release of the person from the period of imprisonment imposed pursuant to this section. [L 2000, c 189, pt of §23; am L 2001, c 157, §26; am L 2003, c 71, §4; am L 2004, c 6, §1 and c 90, §14; am L 2008, c 171, §9; am L 2009, c 88, §13; am L 2010, c 166, §20; am L 2015, c 40, §2; am L 2019, c 169, §3; am L 2021, c 196, §§6, 11; am L 2022, c 94, §2; am L 2023, c 148, §6]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291E-6.5 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291E / Section 291E-6.5
Continuous alcohol monitoring device; requirement; penalties.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person charged with a violation of section 291E-61 or 291E-61.5 as a result of having consumed alcohol:

(1) Who is a repeat intoxicated driver; or

(2) While pending criminal investigation or prosecution for one or more prior charges of violating section 291E-61 or 291E-61.5, as a result of having consumed alcohol,

may be ordered to refrain from consuming any alcohol and submit to monitoring by a continuous alcohol monitoring device, for a period of no less than ninety days. If, following the person's arrest, the person is released on bail by the sheriff, deputy sheriff, chief of police, or any person named by the chief of police, the person shall be scheduled for an initial court appearance within five business days, or as soon thereafter as is practicable.

(b) At the person's initial court appearance, the person may be ordered to refrain from consuming any alcohol and to submit to monitoring by a continuous alcohol monitoring device, for a period of no less than ninety days, as conditions of release on bail. As further conditions of release on bail, if a continuous alcohol monitoring device is ordered, the person shall be ordered to refrain from removing, obstructing, or tampering with the device during the applicable period. The applicable period may be extended by the court at any time, beyond ninety days, but may not be shortened or suspended. Once ordered, the person shall be fitted with a continuous alcohol monitoring device within five business days of the person's initial court appearance, or as soon thereafter as is practicable.

(c) If the device is removed upon being taken into custody by the department of law enforcement, or for a verified medical emergency, such removal shall not be considered a violation of conditions of release on bail, and the applicable period shall be suspended. The person shall be refitted with a continuous alcohol monitoring device at the earliest possible opportunity, at which time the applicable period shall resume.

(d) The administrative director of the courts shall establish and administer a statewide program relating to oversight of all continuous alcohol monitoring devices ordered to be fitted pursuant to chapter 291E, and shall select a single vendor to fit, maintain and monitor them. All costs associated with the device, including administrative and operating costs, shall be paid by the person, except that the vendor shall provide partial financial relief for any charges to persons who apply for such assistance and who are recipients, at the time of arrest, of either food stamps under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or free services under the Older Americans Act or Developmentally Disabled Assistance and Bill of Rights Act.

(e) If the person violates any of the conditions of release on bail as specified in subsection (b), the person's bail may be declared forfeited and bail reset in the same amount or higher, in addition to any other penalties the court may impose.

(f) Nothing in this section shall prevent a court from ordering a defendant to submit to monitoring by a continuous alcohol monitoring device as a condition of release on bail, recognizance, supervised release or sentencing, for violation of section 291E-61 or 291E-61.5 as a first offense, or for violation of any other section, if otherwise permitted by law. [L 2017, c 201, §1; am L 2022, c 278, §17]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 287-39 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 287 / Section 287-39
Other proof may be required.
Status: in_force

Whenever any proof of financial responsibility filed under this chapter no longer fulfills the purposes for which required, the administrator shall, for the purpose of this chapter, require other proof as required by this chapter and shall suspend the license and registration or the nonresident's operating privilege pending the filing of such other proof.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-193 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-193
Traffic laws apply to persons driving mopeds.
Status: in_force

Every person driving a moped upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle under this chapter, except as to the special provisions of this part and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-64 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-64
Vehicle entering highway from private road or driveway.
Status: in_force

The driver of a vehicle about to enter or cross a highway (including bicycle lane or bicycle path) from an alley, building, private road, or driveway or from any public or private property other than a highway that is adjacent to the highway, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles or bicycles approaching on the highway (including bicycle lane or bicycle path) to be entered.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-136 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-136
Penalty.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person who violates section 286-102, 286-122, 286-130, 286-131, 286-132, 286-133, or 286-134 shall be penalized as follows:

(1) For a first offense, or any offense not preceded within a five-year period for the same offense, the person shall pay a fine of no more than $1,000 or serve a term of imprisonment of no more than thirty days, or both;

(2) For an offense that occurs within five years of a prior conviction for the same offense, the person shall pay a minimum fine of $500 and a maximum fine of $1,000, or serve a term of imprisonment of no more than one year, or both; or

(3) For an offense that occurs within five years of two or more prior convictions for the same offense, the person shall be guilty of a class C felony; provided that the court, as part of the person's sentencing, may order that the vehicle used by the person in the commission of the offense be subject to forfeiture under chapter 712A.

(b) Any person who violates any other section in this part shall be fined no more than $1,000.

(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), a minor under the age of eighteen under the jurisdiction of the family court who is subject to this section shall either lose the right to drive a motor vehicle until the age of eighteen or be subject to a fine of $500.

(d) Any person subject to a fine under this section and who fails to timely pay the fine shall be given an opportunity to petition the court to demonstrate that the person's nonpayment or inability to pay is not wilful; provided that if the person petitions the court, the court shall make an individualized assessment of the person's ability to pay based upon the totality of the circumstances, including the person's disposable income, financial obligations, and liquid assets; provided further that if the court determines that the person's nonpayment or inability to pay is not wilful, the court may enter an order that allows additional time for payment; reduces the amount of each installment; revokes the fee or fine, or unpaid portion thereof, in whole or in part; or converts any outstanding fine to community service. [L 1967, c 214, pt of §2; HRS §286-136; am L 1993, c 214, §7; am L 1996, c 169, §3; am L 2003, c 69, §5; am L 2021, c 81, §1; am L 2024, c 212, §2]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-129 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-129
Appeal to circuit court.
Status: in_force

Any applicant who has been refused a license after at least three examinations, or who has been refused any examination, and every licensee whose license has been suspended, revoked, or canceled by the examiner of drivers, may appeal from such refusal, suspension, revocation, or cancellation to the circuit court of the circuit in which the applicant or licensee resides by filing a notice of appeal in such court within thirty days after being notified of the refusal, suspension, revocation, or cancellation. The appeal shall not operate as a stay to the order or decision appealed from. The appeal shall be subject to such procedure and rules as may be prescribed by the court and the decision of the court shall be final except as otherwise provided in chapter 91.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-7.5 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-7.5
[ §286-7.
Status: in_force

[ §286-7.5] Vision Zero. The department of transportation and the county transportation departments shall adopt a Vision Zero policy that seeks to prevent and ultimately eliminate all traffic fatalities through a combination of engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency response strategies that focus on equity .
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-226 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-226
Routes.
Status: in_force

The intrastate shipment of explosives of any quantity that would require placarding of the transporting motor vehicle by the rules adopted pursuant to this part, shall not take place without first giving the police department and the fire department of the county in which the explosives are to be transported a forty-eight hour minimum advance notice. This advance notice shall be in writing and indicate the quantity and type of explosive material being shipped, the date and time of the shipment, and the route over which the explosive shipment will travel. This provision does not apply to the military during the period of an emergency or disaster proclaimed by the President, the governor, or a county mayor.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 290-24 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 290 / Section 290-24
Disposition of proceeds.
Status: in_force

The authorized seller of the vehicle shall be entitled to the proceeds of the sale to the extent that compensation is due the authorized seller for services rendered in respect of the vehicle, including reasonable and customary charges for towing, handling, storage, and the cost of the notices and advertising required by this part. Any remaining balance shall be forwarded to the legal or registered owner of the vehicle if the legal or registered owner can be found. If the legal or registered owner cannot be found, the balance shall be deposited with the director of finance of the State and shall be paid out to the legal or registered owner of the vehicle if a proper claim is filed therefor within one year from the execution of the sales agreement. If no claim is made within the year allowed, the money shall become a state realization.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-246 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-246
Authority to make rules.
Status: in_force

The director may adopt rules under chapter 91 necessary to carry out this part.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 288-4 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 288 / Section 288-4
Conditions of policy.
Status: in_force

The policy of insurance shall insure the common carrier named therein against loss from the liability imposed by law for damages arising out of the operation of the common carrier, the limits of which policy of insurance shall not be less than the standard public liability limit of $5,000 for bodily injury to or death of any one person in any one accident and subject to such limitation for one person, not less than $10,000 for bodily injuries to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and not less than $5,000 for liability for damage to property of others for any one accident. Before the certificate referred to in section 288-3 is filed, the insurer shall file a copy of the form of policy of insurance referred to in the certificate with the treasurer or director of finance of each county in which any such certificate is filed.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-52.4 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-52.4
Terminal rental adjustment clause; vehicle leases.
Status: in_force

[§286-52.4 Terminal rental adjustment clause; vehicle leases.] In the case of motor vehicles or trailers, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a transaction does not create a sale or security interest merely because it provides that the rental price is permitted or required to be adjusted under the agreement, either upward or downward, by reference to the amount realized upon sale or other disposition of the motor vehicle or trailer.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-236 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-236
Commercial driver's license qualification standards.
Status: in_force

(a) No person shall be issued a commercial driver's license unless that person:

(1) Meets the qualification standards of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, part 391, subparts B and E;

(2) Has passed a knowledge and driving skills test for driving a commercial motor vehicle that complies with minimum federal standards established by federal regulation enumerated in title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, part 383, subparts G and H;

(3) Has Hawaii as the state of domicile as defined in title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 383.5; and

(4) Has satisfied all other requirements of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, Public Law 99-570, title XII, in addition to other requirements imposed by state law or federal regulation.

The tests shall be prescribed by the director and administered by the respective county examiner of drivers. The test examiners shall communicate with the applicant only in English during the skills test. As of January 30, 2012, the examiner of drivers shall verify that the medical certification status of a driver who self-certified according to title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 383.71(b)(1)(i), non-excepted interstate, is certified. If a driver submits a current medical examiner's certificate, the examiner of drivers shall date-stamp the certificate and post all required information to the commercial driver's license information system pursuant to title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 383.73(b)(5) and in accordance with title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 383.73(o). A person who is not physically qualified to drive under title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 391.41(b)(1) or (2) and who is otherwise qualified to drive a motor vehicle may be granted an intrastate waiver by the director. The process for granting intrastate waivers shall be the same as that for interstate waivers in title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 391.49; provided that the intrastate waiver requests shall be submitted to the director.

(b) The examiner of drivers may waive the driving skills test specified in this section for a commercial driver's license applicant who meets the requirements of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 383.77 or 383.123(b).

(c) A commercial driver's license or commercial learner's permit, including a provisional or temporary license or permit, shall not be issued to a person while the person is subject to a disqualification from driving a commercial motor vehicle, or while the person's driver's license is suspended, revoked, or canceled in any state; or while the person holds a driver's license issued by any other state unless the person first surrenders that license.

(d) A commercial learner's permit may be issued to an individual who holds a valid driver's license, is at least eighteen years of age, meets the qualification standards of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, part 391, subparts B and E, and has passed the written tests required for the desired class of a commercial driver's license.

(e) The commercial learner's permit shall not be valid for a period in excess of one hundred eighty days from the date that the applicant passes the general and all required endorsement knowledge tests; provided that, if the applicant is not required to take a knowledge test, the period shall start when the permit is issued. When driving a commercial motor vehicle, the holder of a commercial learner's permit shall be accompanied by a person with a valid commercial driver's license to operate that category of commercial motor vehicle with the proper endorsements. The licensed person shall occupy the seat beside the individual for the purpose of giving instruction in driving the commercial motor vehicle. The commercial learner's permit may be renewed no more than an additional one hundred eighty days without requiring the commercial learner's permit holder to retake the general or endorsement knowledge tests, and the applicant requalifies meeting the requirements of subsection (d). The commercial learner's permit holder is eligible to take the commercial driver's license skills test no earlier than fourteen days after obtaining the permit.

(f) The examiner of drivers may waive the knowledge and skills tests specified in this section for any person who is at least twenty-one years of age and who possesses a valid commercial driver's license issued by any state of the United States, Mexico, or a province of Canada that issues licenses in accordance with the minimum federal standards for the issuance of commercial driver's licenses. The examiner of drivers shall accept the test scores of a Hawaii commercial learner's permit holder who completes training in another state in the United States and is tested in compliance with federal motor carrier safety regulations by that state in association with the training. The testing state shall electronically transmit in a secure manner the skills test results directly to the examiner of drivers, and if the applicant passed, and meets all other requirements, a Hawaii commercial driver's license shall be issued. To retain a hazardous materials endorsement, the applicant shall pass the knowledge test for a hazardous materials endorsement and be determined by the federal Transportation Security Administration not to pose a security risk warranting denial of the endorsement.

(g) Every applicant shall successfully complete the commercial driver's license general knowledge test before being issued a commercial learner's permit. A driver holding a valid commercial driver's license who seeks an upgrade for which a skills test is required shall also pass the appropriate knowledge test before obtaining a commercial learner's permit. Beginning February 7, 2022, except for a driver holding a valid commercial driver's license or commercial learner's permit that was obtained before February 7, 2022, every applicant shall complete the entry-level driver training requirements as specified in title 49 Code of Federal Regulations part 380, subpart F, and be verified with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Training Provider Registry before taking the skills test for a class A or class B commercial driver's license, passenger endorsement, or school bus endorsement, and before taking the knowledge test for a hazardous materials endorsement.

(h) Beginning November 18, 2024, the examiner of drivers shall not issue, renew, transfer, or upgrade a commercial driver's license; renew the hazardous materials endorsement; or issue, renew, or upgrade a commercial learner's permit; if the results of a query to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is that the driver is prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle. [L 1989, c 320, pt of §2; am L 1990, c 342, §7; am L 1995, c 114, §§1, 2; am L 2003, c 18, §1, c 32, §1, and c 46, §1; am L 2004, c 103, §5; am L 2006, c 130, §4; am L 2011, c 121, §2; am L 2013, c 114, §7; am L 2014, c 72, §1; am L 2020, c 67, §1 and c 70, §32; am L 2021, c 123, §2; am L 2024, c 136, §2; am L 2025, c 21, §7]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-68 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-68
Interpretation of part.
Status: in_force

Sections 286-62 to 286-69 are supplementary to any statute of the State regarding automobile number or license plates and nothing herein shall be construed as abridging or amending such laws except as herein provided for the use of the special license plates in lieu of the regulation number plates prescribed by law.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-26.5 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-26.5
Special interest vehicles.
Status: in_force

(a) As used in this section:

"Collector" means an owner of one or more vehicles, including parts vehicles, who collects, purchases, acquires, trades, or disposes of a vehicle or its parts, for the owner's own use, to preserve, restore, and maintain the vehicle or another vehicle for hobby or historical purposes.

"Parts vehicle" means a vehicle that is owned by a collector to furnish parts for the restoration or maintenance of a special interest vehicle.

"Street rod replica vehicle" means a vehicle that was assembled from a manufactured kit, either as:

(1) A complete kit to construct a new vehicle consisting of a prefabricated body and chassis;

(2) Components manufactured before 1968; or

(3) Components manufactured after 1967 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1968;

and that has been modified in its body style or design through the use of nonoriginal or reproduction components, such as the frame, engine, drive train, suspension, or brakes, in a manner that does not adversely affect its safe performance as a motor vehicle or render the vehicle unlawful for use on public highways.

"Street rod vehicle" means a vehicle that was:

(1) Manufactured before 1968; or

(2) Manufactured after 1967 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1968;

and that has been modified in its body style or design through the use of nonoriginal or reproduction components, such as the frame, engine, drive train, suspension, or brakes, in a manner that does not adversely affect its safe performance as a motor vehicle or render the vehicle unlawful for use on public highways. The term does not include a motorcycle, an antique vehicle, or a restored vehicle.

(b) If a street rod vehicle was manufactured before 1968 and has been modified in body style or design, the make and year of the vehicle shall be the year the vehicle most nearly resembles. If a street rod vehicle was manufactured after 1967 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1968, the body type of the vehicle shall be street rod vehicle or "STRD".

(c) A state vehicle identification number shall be issued to a street rod vehicle that was manufactured after 1967 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1968, when no vehicle identification number is present on the vehicle; when more than one vehicle identification number is present on the vehicle; or when the vehicle identification number is absent from the body or frame, or both, of the vehicle. The state vehicle identification number shall be assigned by the director of finance of the county in which the vehicle resides; provided that not more than one hundred vehicle identification numbers shall be issued annually.

To obtain a state vehicle identification number under this subsection, the owner of a street rod vehicle that was manufactured after 1967 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1968 shall provide:

(1) A title of ownership from the previous owner of the vehicle's body or frame;

(2) A bill of sale or invoices for all major parts used in the modification of the vehicle; and

(3) A weight certificate issued by a state-certified scale for the actual weight of the vehicle.

(d) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary:

(1) Street rod vehicles and street rod replica vehicles shall be equipped with the following equipment:

(A) Hydraulic service brakes on all wheels;

(B) Sealed beam or halogen headlights;

(C) Turn signals and a turn signaling switch;

(D) Safety glass or lexan windshield;

(E) Electric or vacuum windshield wiper located in front of the driver;

(F) Standard or DOT/SAE-approved tail lights;

(G) A parking brake that operates on at least two wheels on the same axle; and

(H) Seat belt assembly as provided in section 291-11.6;

(2) Street rod vehicles and street rod replica vehicles shall be equipped in such a manner that no part of a vehicle, other than the vehicle's tires, will make contact with the surface of a flat highway when the vehicle is operated on the same;

(3) Bumpers, hoods, door handles, and fenders shall be optional equipment on street rod vehicles and street rod replica vehicles; and

(4) Bumpers, hoods, door handles, and fenders shall be optional equipment on vehicles manufactured before 1968, and on vehicles manufactured after 1967 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1968.

In the event of a conflict between this subsection and equipment requirements specified in chapters 286, 291 and 291C, this subsection shall control.

(e) If a street rod replica vehicle was assembled from a manufactured kit as a complete kit to construct a new vehicle consisting of a prefabricated body and chassis, the year of the vehicle shall be the year the vehicle resembles as reflected on the manufacturer's certificate of origin. If a street rod replica vehicle was assembled from a manufactured kit as components manufactured before 1968 or components manufactured after 1967 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1968, the year of the vehicle shall be the year the vehicle resembles as reflected on the manufacturer's certificate of origin. The certificate of title for a street rod replica vehicle shall be for the make and year the vehicle resembles, and the body type of the vehicle shall be street rod vehicle replica (STRD-RPLC).

(f) The state vehicle identification number of a street rod replica vehicle that was assembled from a manufactured kit as a complete kit to construct a new vehicle consisting of a prefabricated body and chassis shall be taken from the manufacturer's certificate of origin. The state vehicle identification number shall be assigned by the director of finance of the county in which the vehicle resides; provided that not more than one hundred vehicle identification numbers shall be issued annually.

The state vehicle identification number of a street rod replica vehicle that was assembled from a manufactured kit as components manufactured before 1968 or components manufactured after 1967 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1968, shall be taken from the manufacturer's certificate of origin or provided by the director of finance of the county in which the vehicle resides.

To obtain a state vehicle identification number under this subsection, the owner of a street rod replica vehicle shall provide:

(1) Ownership documents from the manufacturer of the kit or components;

(2) All shipping and freight documents for the kit or components; and

(3) A weight certificate issued by a state-certified scale for the actual weight of the vehicle.

(g) A state vehicle identification number shall be issued to a street rod replica vehicle when the vehicle identification number is absent from the body or frame, or both, of the vehicle; or when the vehicle identification number is absent from the manufacturer's certificate of origin. The state vehicle identification number shall be assigned by the director of finance of the county in which the vehicle resides; provided that not more than one hundred vehicle identification numbers shall be issued annually. [L 1997, c 246, §2; am L 2004, c 126, §2]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291D-3 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291D / Section 291D-3
Applicability.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, all traffic infractions, emergency period infractions, and fireworks infractions, including infractions committed by minors, shall be adjudicated pursuant to this chapter, except as provided in subsection (b). This chapter shall be applied uniformly throughout the State and in all counties. No penal sanction that includes imprisonment shall apply to a violation of a state statute or rule, or county ordinance or rule, that would constitute a traffic infraction, an emergency period infraction, or a fireworks infraction under this chapter. No traffic infraction, emergency period infraction, or fireworks infraction shall be classified as a criminal offense.

(b) Where a defendant is charged with a traffic infraction, an emergency period infraction, or a fireworks infraction and the infraction is committed in the same course of conduct as a criminal offense for which the offender is arrested or charged, the traffic infraction, emergency period infraction, or fireworks infraction shall be adjudicated pursuant to this chapter; provided that the court may schedule any initial appearance, hearing, or trial on the traffic infraction, emergency period infraction, or fireworks infraction at the same date, time, and place as the arraignment, hearing, or trial on the related criminal offense.

Notwithstanding this subsection and subsection (c), the court shall not schedule any initial appearance, hearing, or trial on the traffic infraction, emergency period infraction, or fireworks infraction at the same date, time, and place as the arraignment, hearing, or trial on the related criminal offense where the related criminal offense is a felony or is a misdemeanor for which the defendant has demanded a jury trial.

(c) If the defendant requests a trial pursuant to section 291D-13, the trial shall be held in the district court of the circuit in which the traffic infraction, emergency period infraction, or fireworks infraction was committed. If the court schedules a concurrent trial pursuant to paragraph (1), the concurrent trial shall be held in the appropriate district or family court of the circuit in which the traffic infraction, emergency period infraction, or fireworks infraction was committed, whichever has jurisdiction over the related criminal offense charged pursuant to the applicable statute or rule of court; provided that:

(1) The district or family court, for the purpose of trial, may schedule a civil trial on the traffic infraction, emergency period infraction, or fireworks infraction on the same date and at the same time as a criminal trial on the related criminal offense charged. The court shall enter a civil judgment as to the traffic infraction, emergency period infraction, or fireworks infraction and a judgment of conviction or acquittal as to the related criminal offense following the concurrent trial; and

(2) If trial on the traffic infraction, emergency period infraction, or fireworks infraction is held separately from and before trial on any related criminal offense, the following shall be inadmissible in the prosecution or trial of the related criminal offense, except as expressly provided by the Hawaii rules of evidence:

(A) Any written or oral statement made by the defendant in proceedings conducted pursuant to section 291D-7(b); and

(B) Any testimony given by the defendant in the trial on the traffic infraction, emergency period infraction, or fireworks infraction.

These statements or testimony shall not be deemed a waiver of the defendant's privilege against self-incrimination in connection with any related criminal offense.

(d) In no event shall section 701-109 preclude prosecution for a related criminal offense where a traffic infraction, an emergency period infraction, or a fireworks infraction committed in the same course of conduct has been adjudicated pursuant to this chapter.

(e) If the defendant fails to appear at any scheduled court date before the date of trial or concurrent trial and:

(1) The defendant's civil liability for the traffic infraction, emergency period infraction, or fireworks infraction has not yet been adjudicated pursuant to section 291D-8, the court shall enter a judgment by default in favor of the State for the traffic infraction, emergency period infraction, or fireworks infraction unless the court determines that good cause or excusable neglect exists for the defendant's failure to appear; or

(2) The defendant's civil liability for the traffic infraction, emergency period infraction, or fireworks infraction has been adjudicated previously pursuant to section 291D-8, the judgment earlier entered in favor of the State shall stand unless the court determines that good cause or excusable neglect exists for the defendant's failure to appear.

(f) If the defendant fails to appear at any scheduled court date prior to concurrent trial or fails to appear for concurrent trial scheduled pursuant to subsection (c)(1), the court shall enter a disposition pursuant to the Hawaii rules of penal procedure for the criminal offense. [L 1993, c 214, pt of §2; am L 1997, c 59, §1; am L 2005, c 48, §1; am L 2007, c 85, §3; am L 2021, c 185, §6; am L 2025, c 243, §20]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-118 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-118
Records to be kept by the examiner of drivers.
Status: in_force

The examiner of drivers shall file every application for a license received by the examiner and shall maintain suitable indexes containing, in alphabetical order:

(1) All applications denied with a note on each as to the reason for the denial;

(2) All applications granted;

(3) The name of every licensee whose license has been suspended or revoked by a court of competent jurisdiction with a note after each such name as to the reasons for such action.

The examiner of drivers shall also file all accident reports and abstracts of court records of convictions received by the examiner under the traffic laws and regulations of the State or any political subdivision thereof, and in connection therewith the examiner shall maintain convenient records or make suitable notations in order that an individual record of each licensee, the traffic accidents in which the licensee has been involved, and other pertinent data may be readily ascertainable and available for the consideration of the examiner of drivers upon any application for a renewal of license and at other suitable times.

The examiner of drivers may dispose of any records accumulated under this section whenever the examiner deems it advisable. [L 1937, c 234, §18; RL 1945, §7319; RL 1955, §160-50; am L 1967, c 214, §11; HRS §286-118; am L 1970, c 164, §3; gen ch 1985]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-17 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-17
Written reports of accidents.
Status: in_force

Written reports of accidents by drivers, owners, and occupants of vehicles involved in accidents shall be furnished in compliance with the requirements of chapter 287.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-49 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-49
Driving on roadways laned for traffic.
Status: in_force

Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic the following rules in addition to all others consistent herewith shall apply.

(1) A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from the lane until the driver has first ascertained that such movement can be made with safety.

(2) Upon a roadway which is divided into three lanes and provides for two-way movement of traffic, a vehicle shall not be driven in the center lane except when overtaking and passing another vehicle traveling in the same direction when the center lane is clear of traffic within a safe distance, or in preparation for making a left turn or where the center lane is at the time allocated exclusively to traffic moving in the same direction that the vehicle is proceeding and such allocation is designated by official traffic-control devices.

(3) Official traffic-control devices may be erected directing specified traffic to use a designated lane or designating those lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular direction regardless of the center of the roadway and drivers of vehicles shall obey the directions of every such sign.

(4) Official traffic-control devices may be installed prohibiting the changing of lanes on sections of roadway and drivers of vehicles shall obey the directions of every such device. [L 1971, c 150, pt of §1; am L 2018, c 218, §§4, 9]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-26 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-26
Certificates of inspection.
Status: in_force

(a) The following vehicles shall be certified as provided in subsection (e) once every year:

(1) Trucks, truck-tractors, semitrailers, and pole trailers having a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds;

(2) Buses;

(3) Rental or U-drive motor vehicles two years of age or older;

(4) Taxicabs; and

(5) Mopeds.

Ambulances shall be certified as provided in subsection (e) once every six months.

(b) All other vehicles, including motorcycles, mopeds, trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers having a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less, and antique motor vehicles as defined in section 249-1, except those in subsections (c) and (d), shall be certified as provided in subsection (e) every twelve months; provided that any vehicle to which this subsection applies, except a moped, shall not require inspection within two years of the date on which the vehicle was first sold.

(c) Any vehicle or moped that has been involved in an accident shall be certified as provided in subsection (e) before it is operated again if:

(1) It is determined by a police officer or an insurer that the vehicle's or moped's equipment has been damaged so as to render the vehicle or moped unsafe; or

(2) It is rebuilt or restored.

(d) Every vehicle or moped shall be certified prior to the issuance of a temporary or permanent registration by the director of finance and prior to the transfer of any registration; provided that this requirement shall not apply to a subsequent transfer of registration in a vehicle or moped that carries a current certificate of inspection.

(e) Upon application for a certificate of inspection to be issued for a vehicle or moped, an inspection as prescribed by the director under subsection (g) shall be conducted on the vehicle or moped. If the vehicle or moped is found to be in safe operating condition, including adhering to head lamp requirements and specifications pursuant to section 291-25(a), as applicable, and is not equipped with a muffler or exhaust system that fails to comply with section 291-24 or 291-24.5, as applicable, a certificate of inspection shall be issued upon payment of a fee to be determined by the director. The certificate shall state the effective date, termination date, name of the issuing insurance carrier, policy number of the motor vehicle insurance identification card for the inspected motor vehicle as specified by section 431:10C-107 or state the information contained in the proof of insurance card as specified by section 431:10G-106, and the odometer reading of the vehicle on the date of inspection. A sticker, authorized by the director, shall be affixed to the vehicle or moped at the time a certificate of inspection is issued. An inspection sticker that has been lost, stolen, or destroyed shall be replaced without reinspection by the inspection station that issued the original inspection sticker upon presentation of the current certificate of inspection; provided that the current certificate of inspection and inspection sticker shall not have expired at the time the replacement is requested. The director shall adopt rules to determine the fee for replacement of lost, stolen, or destroyed inspection stickers.

(f) The operator of an official inspection station shall pay, from the fee in subsection (e), an amount to be determined by rules adopted pursuant to chapter 91 to the director of transportation. This amount shall be expended only for administration and enforcement of the periodic motor vehicle inspection program. The funds collected pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited into the highway special fund.

(g) The director of transportation shall adopt necessary rules for the administration of inspections and the issuance of certificates of inspection; provided that the rules shall:

(1) At a minimum, require inspections to ensure that a vehicle or moped is not equipped with a muffler or exhaust system that fails to comply with section 291-24 or 291-24.5, as applicable; and

(2) Include head lamp requirements that adhere to the specifications pursuant to section 291-25(a), as applicable .

(h) This section shall not apply to:

(1) Any motor vehicle that is covered by part XI, governing safety of motor carrier vehicle operation and equipment; provided that the rules adopted pursuant to part IA impose standards of inspection at least as strict as those imposed under subsection (g) and that certification is required at least as often as provided in subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d);

(2) Aircraft servicing vehicles that are being used exclusively on lands set aside to the department of transportation for airport purposes; and

(3) Tractor trucks, forklifts, and top picks being used as marine terminal equipment temporarily moving in or between terminals at:

(A) Sand Island and along Sand Island Parkway and Sand Island Access Road;

(B) Kalanianaole Avenue between Kuhio Street and Kahanu Street, abutting Hilo Harbor;

(C) Kawaihae-Mahukona Road abutting Kawaihae Harbor;

(D) East Kaahumanu Avenue between Hobron Avenue and Kane Street, abutting Kahului Harbor; and

(E) Waipaa Road abutting Nawiliwili Harbor.

(i) As part of the inspection required by this section, the owner of the vehicle to be inspected, except for mopeds, shall produce and display the motor vehicle insurance identification card for the inspected motor vehicle required by section 431:10C-107 or the proof of insurance card required by section 431:10G-106. If no card is displayed, then the sticker authorized by the director shall not be affixed to the vehicle and the certificate of inspection shall not be issued. [L 1967, c 214, pt of §2; HRS §286-26; am L 1969, c 128, §1(3); am L 1970, c 73, §1(c); am L 1974, c 98, §2; am L Sp 1977 1st, c 20, §11; am L 1978, c 91, §9; am L 1982, c 13, §§1, 2; am L 1984, c 276, §4; am L 1986, c 33, §1 and c 239, §1; am L 1987, c 222, §1; am L 1988, c 253, §1; am L 1989, c 326, §1; am L 1990, c 34, §14; am L 1992, c 170, §1 and c 242, §1; am L 1997, c 251, §§5, 6; am L 2002, c 138, §1; am L 2016, c 200, §11; am L 2017, c 115, §1; am L 2019, c 220, §1; am L 2023, c 144, §1 and c 222, §4; am L 2025, c 172, §1]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-74 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-74
Drivers to exercise due care.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian upon any roadway and shall give warning by sounding the driver's horn when necessary and shall exercise proper precaution upon observing any child or any obviously confused or incapacitated person upon a roadway.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-124 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-124
Obstruction to driver's view or driving mechanism.
Status: in_force

(a) No person shall drive a vehicle when it is so loaded, or when there are in the front seat such a number of persons, exceeding three, as to obstruct the view of the driver to the front or sides of the vehicle, or as to interfere with the driver's control over the driving mechanism of the vehicle.

(b) While operating a motor vehicle, no person shall hold in the person's lap, or allow to be in the driver's immediate area, any person, animal, or object which interferes with the driver's control over the driving mechanism of the vehicle.

(c) No passenger in a vehicle shall ride in such position as to interfere with the driver's view ahead or to the sides, or to interfere with the driver's control over the driving mechanism of the vehicle. [L 1971, c 150, pt of §1; am L 1981, c 11, §1; gen ch 1985]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-120 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-120
Authority of examiner of drivers to cancel licenses.
Status: in_force

The examiner of drivers may cancel any driver's license if the examiner determines that the licensee was not entitled to it, failed to give the required or correct information in the licensee's application, or committed fraud in making the licensee's application or in obtaining the license.

Upon cancellation, the licensee shall surrender the licensee's license to the examiner of drivers. [L 1967, c 214, pt of §2; HRS §286-120; am L 1970, c 164, §3; gen ch 1985]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-143.5 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-143.5
[ §291C-143.
Status: in_force

[ §291C-143.5] Low-speed electric bicycles; operator age. No person under the age of fifteen shall operate a low-speed electric bicycle as defined under title 15 United States Code section 2085.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-201 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-201
Renting or selling mopeds.
Status: in_force

(a) Every person engaged in the retail business of selling or renting mopeds shall provide the person renting or purchasing a moped with a copy of the rules for mopeds as approved by the director of transportation.

(b) Every person renting a moped to another shall keep a record for two years of the registration number of the moped so rented, the name and address of the person to whom the moped is rented, the number of the driver's license of the latter person, and the date and place when and where the driver's license was issued. This record shall be open to inspection by any police officer or the examiner of drivers or the examiner of drivers' representative. [L 1978, c 175, pt of §15; gen ch 1985]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291E-8 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291E / Section 291E-8
Drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory special fund; established.
Status: in_force

(a) There is established in the state treasury a drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory special fund, into which shall be deposited:

(1) All fines collected pursuant to sections 291E-61(b)(2)(E), 291E-61.5(c)(2)(C), and 291E-62(c);

(2) Moneys appropriated by the legislature to the fund;

(3) Other grants and gifts made to the fund; and

(4) Any income and interest earned on the balance of the fund.

(b) Moneys in the drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory special fund shall be administered and expended by the department of transportation, or appropriated as a grant-in-aid to the emergency services department of a county with a population of five hundred thousand or more, to support a drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory. [L 2021, c 196, §2; am L 2023, c 148, §3]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-222 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-222
Designation of high occupancy vehicle lane.
Status: in_force

(a) The director of transportation by rules adopted in accordance with chapter 91, and the counties by ordinance, may designate high occupancy vehicle lanes as to roadways under their respective jurisdictions.

(b) Signs and other official traffic-control devices that designate high occupancy vehicle lanes shall be placed and maintained to advise drivers of the high occupancy vehicle requirement and the hours of usage. When the high occupancy vehicle lane also serves as a contraflow lane, the hours of usage as a high occupancy vehicle lane shall be the time when the lane is coned for use as a high occupancy vehicle lane.

(c) No motor vehicle shall be operated upon these lanes except in conformance with the instructions on the signs and other official traffic-control devices.

(d) A motorcycle may use any high occupancy vehicle lane, regardless of the number of occupants.

(e) Any vehicle authorized by rules adopted in accordance with chapter 91 may use any high occupancy vehicle lane, regardless of the number of occupants, when the use is determined to enhance public safety and improves traffic conditions. [L 1993, c 224, pt of §1, §6; am L 1995, c 25, §1; am L 1997, c 309, §§3, 4]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-42 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-42
County finance director's duties.
Status: in_force

(a) The county director of finance shall examine and to the best of the director's ability determine the genuineness and regularity of every registration and transfer of registration of a vehicle pursuant to this part to ensure that every certificate issued for a vehicle contains true statements of the ownership of the vehicle and to prevent the registration of a vehicle by any person not entitled to the vehicle. The director of finance may require any applicant to furnish information, in addition to that contained in the application, that is necessary to satisfy the director of finance of the truth and regularity of the application. The director of finance may accept any county certificate of title issued for a vehicle as prima facie evidence of ownership for registration and transfer of registration. The director may issue vehicle identification numbers for reconstructed vehicles, special interest vehicles, or motorcycles that do not have vehicle identification numbers if the director determines that the requirements of this section have been met.

The county director of finance may register a motorcycle with an aftermarket motorcycle frame, using the number of the frame as issued by the manufacturer of the frame, the vehicle identification number on the certification label, or a vehicle identification number assigned by the director of finance. A bill of sale and Manufacturer's Statement of Origin for the frame, engine, and transmission must be presented and retained as a part of the permanent county registration records. If a Manufacturer's Statement of Origin is not available for the engine and transmission due to the use of a used or reconstructed engine, transmission, or both, then a bill of sale or other proof of ownership, satisfactory to the director of finance must be presented. Except for motorcycles that are built on an aftermarket motorcycle frame, special interest vehicles, and reconstructed vehicles, any motor vehicle or device that is not certified by the manufacturer to be in compliance with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards as of the date of [manufacture] shall not be registered.

(b) For the purpose of registering standard makes and body types of new passenger motor vehicles the director of finance may accept the certificate of any licensed motor vehicle dealer certifying to the weight and identification of such vehicle. The director of finance of any county may accept the certificate of the director of finance of any other county as to weight and identification of any such vehicle.

(c) The director of finance may enter into a contract with car dealerships and motor vehicle rental companies for the registration of new and used motor vehicles consistent with any statute, ordinance, or provision of any applicable collective bargaining agreement. The director of finance may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 as may be necessary for the application, bonding, and procedural requirements of the contractor.

(d) In the event the director of finance is not satisfied as to the ownership of any vehicle sought to be registered, unless the applicant presents satisfactory evidence to the director of finance of the applicant's ownership of the vehicle and as to any liens thereon, the director of finance may accept from the applicant a bond in such form as may be determined by the director of finance in an amount equal to the retail value of the vehicle. The bond and the deposit thereof shall be conditioned to protect the director of finance and any subsequent purchaser of the vehicle or person acquiring any lien thereon or the successor in interest of any such person against any loss or damage on account of any defect in or undisclosed encumbrance upon the right, title, and interest of the applicant in and to the vehicle. Any such interested person shall have a right of action to recover on any such bond for any breach of the conditions for which the same was deposited. The aggregate liability of the surety to all such persons shall in no event exceed the amount of the bond and interest thereon, plus a reasonable attorney's fee to be allowed by the court incurred to procure the recovery under the bond. The bond shall (unless suit has been instituted thereon) be returned and surrendered at the end of three years.

(e) The county finance director, upon being notified by the designated county department that a vehicle is a special interest vehicle, shall cause that fact to be shown upon the registration and title certificates for that vehicle. [L 1929, c 197, §2; RL 1935, §2666; RL 1945, §7337; am L 1949, c 162, §1; am L 1953, c 69, §2; RL 1955, §160-3; am L Sp 1959 2d, c 1, §16; HRS §286-42; am L 1977, c 77, §3; am L 1984, c 276, §6; gen ch 1985; am L 1992, c 135, §1; am L 1995, c 164, §2; am L 1996, c 108, §1; am L 1997, c 246, §6; am L 2002, c 255, §3; am L 2011, c 64, §2; am L 2015, c 47, §3; am L 2021, c 129, §2]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 290-5 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 290 / Section 290-5
Waiver of public auction requirements.
Status: in_force

The requirements of public auction may be waived when the value of any vehicle is less than $1,000 as determined by the director of finance or authorized representative or the vehicle is:

(1) Missing major components or so materially damaged as to render the vehicle inoperable; and

(2) The registration period has expired for the vehicle.

In that event, the vehicle, after public advertisement has been made pursuant to section 1-28.5, may be disposed of in the same manner as when a vehicle is put up for public auction and for which no bid is received. [L 1949, c 194, pt of §1; RL 1955, pt of §138-32; am L 1967, c 267, pt of §1; HRS §290-5; am L 1989, c 158, §4; am L 2006, c 62, §1; am L 2007, c 8, §1]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-53 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-53
Dealers in new motor vehicles.
Status: in_force

(a) A manufacturer of or dealer in new motor vehicles having an established place of business, owning any such new vehicles and operating them upon the public highways, in lieu of registering each such new vehicle, may make application upon an official form provided for that purpose to the director of finance for a permanent number plate.

(b) Every new vehicle owned or controlled by the manufacturer or dealer, and permitted to be registered under a permanent number plate shall be regarded as registered thereunder until the vehicle is sold and the sale has been recorded by the director of finance.

(c) The director of finance shall, upon receipt of the application, or thereafter, furnish to the manufacturer or dealer:

(1) Permanent number plates which shall be attached to new motor vehicles which are used by the applicant only for demonstration of the new motor vehicles to customers upon the public highways if requested by the applicant. The price of each permanent number plate shall be established by the director of finance under chapter 91. Each permanent number plate shall display upon it the number which is assigned to the applicant and a different letter or number to differentiate it from other plates furnished to the applicant. Permanent number plates which are detached from a new motor vehicle which has been sold may be used on another new motor vehicle; and

(2) Temporary motor vehicle plates, if the applicant is a new motor vehicle dealer, which plates shall be blank except for an area on the lower right corner which shall be utilized for validation of the temporary plates. The validation shall not be reproducible by any person other than the director of finance, or director of finance of another county if an agreement is made to utilize a uniform validation, shall signify the official status of the temporary number plate, and be designed to be visible from a distance of two feet.

The directors of finance of any two or more counties may agree to utilize a uniform designation to be placed upon the temporary number plate. The director of finance shall establish the material used for the temporary number plate and a charge by rule under chapter 91 for each temporary number plate.

(d) Whenever the design of the number plates issued under chapter 249 is changed, the new motor vehicle dealer shall apply to the director of finance for the most current permanent number plates. Before issuing the current permanent number plates, the director of finance shall require each applicant to return the permanent number plates issued previously. If any permanent number plates issued previously have been lost or destroyed, the manufacturer or dealer who applies for the permanent number plates shall certify in writing to the director of finance that the permanent number plates have been lost or destroyed and that if any lost permanent number plates are found, they shall be returned forthwith to the director of finance. Upon receipt of the certificate, the director of finance shall issue an equal number of the most current permanent number plates as have been certified to be lost or destroyed.

(e) Whenever a new motor vehicle dealer sells a new motor vehicle to a person, the new motor vehicle dealer shall detach the permanent number plate issued under subsection (c) from that new motor vehicle and replace it with one temporary number plate. The temporary number plate shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle in the same location as required for number plates under section 249-7. The new motor vehicle dealer shall print only the following upon the temporary number plate:

(1) The date that is thirty working days after the date the new owner takes possession of the motor vehicle, which date shall be placed in the middle of the temporary number plate in numbers not less than four inches in height;

(2) The name and address of the new owner;

(3) The name and address of the new motor vehicle dealer;

(4) The serial number of the new motor vehicle; and

(5) The date the new motor vehicle owner took possession of the motor vehicle.

Any temporary number plate upon which is placed any drawings, pictures, or words other than what is required by paragraphs (1) through (5), shall be invalid.

The information required by paragraphs (3) through (5) shall be printed in the upper left corner of the temporary number plate.

The temporary number plate shall be valid through the date listed in paragraph (1).

Any person who operates a motor vehicle with an expired temporary number plate shall be fined not more than $500. Any new motor vehicle dealer who prepares an invalid temporary number plate shall be fined not more than $500.

(f) No manufacturer or dealer shall permit the operation of any motor vehicle owned or controlled by the manufacturer or dealer upon any public highway, unless permanent number plates assigned to the manufacturer or dealer are attached thereto, in the manner specified in this part; provided that the new vehicles may be operated without permanent number plates attached thereto on the initial continuous movement from the place of entry of the vehicle into this State to the warehouse, storeroom, salesroom, or other place of business selected by the manufacturer or dealer.

(g) Every manufacturer or dealer, upon the sale, lease, or other transfer by the manufacturer or dealer of a new vehicle registered under a general distinguishing number, as herein provided, shall forthwith give notice of the transfer to the director of finance upon the appropriate official form, stating the date of the transfer, a description of the vehicle, the name and post office address of the transferee, and certifying that temporary number plates have been provided for the motor vehicle of the transferee.

Following the transfer, if application for registration has been made by or on behalf of the transferee, the vehicle may be operated until duly registered by the director of finance under chapter 249 and this chapter or until the expiration of the temporary number plates whichever occurs sooner.

(h) The director of finance may, at the director's discretion, grant a temporary permit to operate a vehicle, a registration for which has been applied for.

(i) For the purposes of this section:

"New motor vehicle dealer" means a dealer licensed under chapter 437 to engage in the business of selling new motor vehicles or used motor vehicles at wholesale or retail or both.

"New motor vehicles" means motor vehicles of the current model year, immediate past model year, or the next model year that have not been sold or registered by the manufacturer or dealer.

"Permanent number plate" means a number plate furnished to a manufacturer or dealer under subsection (c)(1) for a motor vehicle that is similar to the number plate issued under section 249-7 and that allows the motor vehicle to be operated on the public highways.

"Temporary number plate" means the number plate furnished to a new motor vehicle dealer under subsection (c)(2). [L 1929, c 197, §9; RL 1935, §2672; am L 1941, c 211, §1; RL 1945, §7343; am L 1949, c 162, §2; am L 1953, c 131, §1(f); RL 1955, §160-11; am L 1967, c 92, §1; HRS §286-53; am L 1980, c 133, §4; gen ch 1985; am L 1987, c 319, §1; am L 1990, c 131, §2; am L 1995, c 24, §1; am L 2020, c 70, §30]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-65 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-65
Operation of vehicles on approach of authorized emergency vehicles.
Status: in_force

(a) Except as otherwise provided by county ordinance, upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle making use of audible and visual signals, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position clear of any intersection and parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right hand edge or curb of the highway or the nearest edge or curb when the highway has multiple lanes or when the highway is a divided highway or one-way street and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle is passed, except as otherwise directed by a police officer.

(b) This section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway. [L 1971, c 150, pt of §1]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 289-3 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 289 / Section 289-3
Application for a license.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person desiring to engage in any business described in section 289-2 shall file an application for a license therefor with the director of finance. The application for a license shall be made on the form prescribed by the director of finance and shall contain the following information:

(1) Name of applicant and location of principal place of business;

(2) The kind or nature of the business or businesses enumerated in section 289-2 which is to be conducted;

(3) Name or style under which the business is to be conducted;

(4) Name and address of each owner or partner, and, if a corporation, the names of the officers and directors;

(5) Address of each place of business at which the business is to be conducted;

(6) A statement showing whether or not the applicant has previously applied for a license under this chapter and the result of the application, and whether or not the applicant has ever been the holder of such a license which was revoked or suspended;

(7) If the applicant is a corporation or copartnership, a statement showing whether or not any of the partners, employees, officers, or directors has been refused such a license, or has been the holder of such a license which was revoked or suspended.

(b) Prior to the expiration of a license issued under this chapter, in lieu of an application for any renewal of a license as required herein, the director of finance may accept a verified certificate signed by the licensee showing that there has been no change, or no change with specified exceptions, since the last filing of an application in respect to:

(1) Personnel of owners, partners, officers, or directors;

(2) Location of offices, or principal place of business; and

(3) That no proceeding is pending for the suspension or revocation of the licensee's existing license.

(c) A fee of $10 shall accompany each application for a license. [L 1967, c 277, §4; HRS §289-3]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-155 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-155
Footrests and handlebars.
Status: in_force

(a) Any motorcycle carrying a passenger, other than in a sidecar or enclosed cab, shall be equipped with footrests for such passenger.

(b) No person shall operate any motorcycle with handlebars more than fifteen inches in height above that portion of the seat occupied by the operator. [L 1971, c 150, pt of §1]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 290-22 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 290 / Section 290-22
When vehicle deemed abandoned.
Status: in_force

A motor vehicle shall be deemed to be abandoned upon satisfaction of the following conditions:

(1) The service requested or required by a person whose vehicle is towed or brought to a motor vehicle repair business, such as towing and rendering estimates of the cost of repairs has been performed; and

(2) No authorization is given to perform any further service respecting the vehicle but the vehicle is left on the repair business premises; and

(3) The owner of the repair business or the owner's authorized representative has given notice by registered or certified mail to the legal and registered owner of the motor vehicle at the addresses on record in the vehicle licensing division stating that, if the vehicle is not repossessed within thirty days after the mailing of the notice, it will be sold or disposed of as junk. The notice also shall contain a description of the vehicle and its location. The notice need not be sent to a legal or registered owner or any person with an unrecorded interest in the vehicle whose name or address cannot be determined; and

(4) The vehicle is not repossessed within the above mentioned thirty-day period. [L 1969, c 178, pt of §1; gen ch 1985]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 289-9 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 289 / Section 289-9
[ §289-9] Statement required; catalytic converter.
Status: in_force

[ §289-9] Statement required; catalytic converter. (a) Every licensee, before the purchase of a catalytic converter within the State, shall obtain a written statement signed by the seller certifying that the seller has the lawful right to sell and dispose of the catalytic converter. This statement shall also contain the:

(1) Seller ' s name, business or residence address, and occupation;

(2) Description, including serial numbers and other identifying marks, when practical, of every catalytic converter;

(3) Amount paid to the seller;

(4) Date, time, and place of the sale; and

(5) License plate number of any vehicle used to deliver the property to the place of purchase.

(b) The seller shall provide a copy of a receipt that describes, with particularity:

(1) The exact item that is being offered for sale;

(2) The name of the person who issued the receipt;

(3) The date of sale of the item before the item's being offered to the licensee; and

(4) The price, if any, of the item when obtained by the seller.

(c) If a receipt is not available, the seller shall provide to the licensee a notarized declaration that describes with particularity:

(1) The exact item that is being offered for sale;

(2) The name of the person who sold or otherwise transferred the item to the seller;

(3) The date of sale of the item; and

(4) The price, if any, of the item when obtained by the seller.

(d) If the seller does not provide a copy of the receipt or the notarized declaration as required by subsection (b) or (c), respectively, the licensee shall not purchase the catalytic converter, in whole or in part, and shall report the attempted sale to the applicable county police department.

(e) Upon purchase of any catalytic converter, in whole or in part, the licensee shall take one or more separate photographs of each individual catalytic converter offered for sale.

(f) The licensee shall require the seller to verify the seller's identity by presenting a valid photo identification card or driver's license issued by a federal or state government agency authorized to issue valid identification. The licensee shall:

(1) Take a photograph of the seller; and

(2) Make a photocopy of the photo identification card or driver's license of the seller.

(g) The licensee shall keep at the licensee's place of business:

(1) The signed written statement required by subsection (a);

(2) The receipt or notarized declaration required by subsection (b) or (c);

(3) Photographs required by subsection (e); and

(4) The photograph of the seller and a photocopy of the seller's photo identification card or driver's license required by subsection (f),

for a period of three years after the date of purchase. The statement, receipt or notarized declaration, photographs of each individual catalytic converter offered for sale, and photograph of the seller and photocopy of the seller's photo identification may be examined at any time by the director of finance, chief of police, attorney general, prosecuting attorney, or their designees.

(h) Every licensee, when the licensee purchases a catalytic converter within the State , shall attach a tag to the catalytic converter that shall include the year, make, model, license plate number, and vehicle identification number of the vehicle from which the catalytic converter was removed and the name of the seller. The licensee shall report the purchase to the applicable county police department, the record of which shall be maintained in the police department's database. The licensee shall maintain possession of the purchased catalytic converter for a period of sixty days before selling, exchanging, recycling, or otherwise disposing of the catalytic converter. [L 2022, c 88, pt of §2]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-125 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-125
Discretionary revocation or suspension of license by a court.
Status: in_force

In addition to the provisions for mandatory revocation of a license set forth in section 286-124, any court of competent jurisdiction may, in its discretion, revoke or suspend the license of any driver convicted of any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used, or convicted of a violation of this part or of any traffic law or regulation of the State or any political subdivision thereof involving a vehicle in motion.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-202 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-202
Moped equipment requirements and inspection.
Status: in_force

(a) Every moped offered for sale for use upon, sold for use upon, or used upon the roadways and highways shall be equipped with:

(1) A motor having a maximum power output capability, measured at the motor output shaft, in accordance with SAE International standards, of two horsepower (one thousand four hundred ninety-two watts) or less and, if it is a combustion engine, a maximum piston or rotor displacement of 3.05 cubic inches (fifty cubic centimeters) and that will propel the moped, unassisted, on a level surface at a maximum speed no greater than thirty miles per hour; provided that those mopeds, including those modified pursuant to section 291C-206, registered prior to April 23, 1998, shall continue to be subject to the prior thirty-five miles per hour maximum speed limitation; and

(2) A direct or automatic power drive system that requires no clutch or gear shift operation by the moped driver after the drive system is engaged with the power unit.

(b) The director of transportation by rules and regulations, pursuant to chapter 91, shall establish criteria which shall comply with approved federal regulations for the following moped equipment: brake system; fuel system components; exhaust system components; steering system; handlebars; wheel rims; fenders; a guard or protective covering for drive belts, chains and rotating components; seat or saddle; lamps and reflectors; equipment controls; speedometer; retracting stand; horn; and identification markings.

(c) The director of transportation by rules and regulations, pursuant to chapter 91, shall establish criteria and procedures for the annual safety inspection of every moped. Safety inspection criteria shall include the criteria established by the director of transportation under subsection (b). [L 1978, c 175, pt of §15; am L 1979, c 107, §2; am L 1998, c 25, §1; am L 2022, c 109, §8]

Revision Note

"April 23, 1998" substituted for "the effective date of this Act".
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-109 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-109
General provision governing the issuance of licenses.
Status: in_force

(a) Upon payment of the required fee and upon demonstrating the ability to operate a certain category or categories of motor vehicles to the satisfaction of the examiner of drivers, an applicant for a driver's license shall be issued a single license of a design approved by the director of transportation upon which is made a notation of:

(1) The person's full legal name, date of birth, gender designation, residence address, and license number;

(2) The category or categories of motor vehicles the applicant may operate;

(3) Any restrictive provisions to which the license is subject;

(4) Veteran status, if desired by the applicant; provided that the notation shall be on the front of the license and shall not include any designation other than the term "veteran"; and

(5) When the license is issued to a person under twenty-one years of age, a statement, in clearly legible print that shall contrast with the other information appearing on the license, which indicates the date on which the person will attain the age of twenty-one years.

As used in this subsection:

"Gender designation" includes the options of F, M, or X.

"Veteran" means any person who served in any of the uniformed services of the United States, including veterans of the Korean conflict and persons who served in the armed forces of the Republic of Korea, who fought under the command of the United Nations led by the United States, during the Korean conflict and are currently United States citizens, and was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

(b) The examiner of drivers shall not issue or renew any driver's license using the driver's social security number on the driver's license.

(c) Statutes of limitations and other provisions of this chapter notwithstanding, no driver's license or instruction permit shall be issued or renewed under this section, where the examiner of drivers is notified by the district judge, traffic, emergency period, and fireworks violations bureaus of the district courts, or the judge of the circuit court that the applicant has failed to respond to a traffic citation or summons, or failed to appear in court after an arrest for the violation of any traffic laws of a county, this chapter or chapter 286G, 287, 290, 291, or 291C, or of any motor vehicle insurance laws under article 10C of chapter 431, or of any motorcycle or motor scooter insurance laws under article 10G of chapter 431, and the same remains delinquent and outstanding, or the applicant, has as of the time of the application, failed to comply in full with all orders of the court; provided that this subsection shall not apply to outstanding and delinquent payments pursuant to chapter 291D; provided further that the district court with whose order an applicant has failed to comply in full, may approve the issuance or renewal of a driver's license or instruction permit other than a commercial driver's license upon conditions imposed by the court for the satisfaction of the outstanding court order and any other conditions as may be imposed by the court, if one or more of the following conditions are met:

(1) The applicant is gainfully employed in a position that requires driving and will be discharged if the applicant is unable to drive; or

(2) The applicant has no access to alternative transportation and therefore must drive to work;

provided further that if the applicant has failed to comply in full with orders of the district court of more than one circuit, the applicant shall obtain the approval of the district court of each circuit in which the applicant has an outstanding court order before a driver's license or instruction permit may be issued or renewed under this subsection.

A driver's license or instruction permit issued or renewed under this subsection shall be subject to immediate suspension by the court upon the applicant's failure to remain in full compliance with all conditions imposed by the court for the issuance or renewal of the driver's license or instruction permit. The examiner of drivers may place an indication of restriction upon a driver's license or instruction permit issued or renewed under this subsection. Proof of financial responsibility under section 287-20 shall not apply to the issuance or renewal of driver's licenses or instruction permits under this subsection. [L 1967, c 214, pt of §2; HRS §286-109; am L 1970, c 164, §3; am L 1975, c 24, §7; am L Sp 1977 1st, c 20, §12; am L 1985, c 107, §1; am L 1990, c 9, §1; am L 1999, c 269, §1; am L 2002, c 105, §2; am L 2014, c 6, §1; am L 2016, c 24, §2; am L 2019, c 148, §2; am L 2020, c 59, §2; am L 2021, c 185, §17; am L 2025, c 243, §35]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-303 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-303
Application for identification card.
Status: in_force

(a) Application for the identification card shall be made in person by any adult or minor. In the case of a minor under the age of fourteen years, the application shall be made on the minor's behalf by the parent, or by another individual in loco parentis of the minor who can provide proof of guardianship. In the case of an incompetent individual, the application shall be made by the individual having the custody or control of or maintaining the incompetent individual. A non‑compliant identification card shall be issued in accordance with section 286-301.5 for applications not made in person.

(b) Application for renewal of an identification card issued after November 1, 1998, for an individual eighty years of age or older may be done by mailing in or electronically submitting a completed application and fee, if there is no change in name and citizenship status. The director shall adopt rules to allow for renewal by mail or electronic methods for individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities for whom application in person presents a serious burden. For an individual who has a letter from a licensed primary care provider certifying that a severe disability causes the individual to be homebound, the director shall adopt rules allowing for application for renewal of an identification card under this section by means other than in-person appearance. A non-compliant identification card shall be issued in accordance with section 286-301.5 for renewal applications not made in person.

(c) Every application for an identification card or duplicate of an identification card shall be made on a form developed by the director and furnished by the examiner of drivers, signed by the applicant, and signed by the applicant's parent or guardian if the applicant is under eighteen years of age. The application shall contain the following information:

(1) Name and complete address, including the number and street name, of the applicant's permanent residence;

(2) The applicant's occupation and any pertinent data relating thereto;

(3) The applicant's citizenship status;

(4) The applicant's veteran status if applicable and desired by the applicant;

(5) The applicant's date and place of birth;

(6) General description of the applicant, including the applicant's gender designation, height, weight, hair color, and eye color;

(7) The applicant's left and right index fingerprints or, if clear impressions cannot be obtained, other identifying imprints as specified by rules of the director;

(8) The social security number of the applicant; and

(9) A digitized frontal photograph of the applicant's full face.

Each applicant shall present documentary evidence as required by the examiner of drivers of the applicant's age and identity, and the applicant shall swear or affirm that all information given is true and correct; provided that an applicant shall not be required to provide documentation to prove the applicant's gender designation other than the applicant's self-certification of their chosen gender designation; provided further that documentation that may incidentally show an applicant's birth gender may be required if necessary to establish that the applicant is legally entitled to an identification card.

For purposes of this subsection, "gender designation" shall have the same meaning as in section 286-109(a).

(d) The application also shall state whether the applicant has an advance health-care directive. If the applicant has an advance health-care directive, the identification card shall bear the designation "AHCD".

(e) An application for an identification card from the examiner of drivers shall include the voter registration application required under section 11-15.7.

(f) The examiner of drivers shall maintain a suitable, indexed record of all applications.

(g) For the purpose of this section, "AHCD", which stands for "advance health-care directive", means an individual instruction in writing, a living will, or a durable power of attorney for health care decisions. [L 2012, c 310, pt of §2; am L 2014, c 6, §3; am L 2018, c 75, §1; am L 2019, c 148, §4 and c 233, §3; am L 2020, c 52, §1; am L 2021, c 126, §6]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-37 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-37
Interference with official traffic-control devices or railroad signs or signals.
Status: in_force

No person shall, without lawful authority, attempt to or in fact alter, deface, injure, knock down, or remove any official traffic-control device or any railroad sign or signal or any inscription, shield, or insignia thereon, or any other part thereof.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-153 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-153
Operating motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic.
Status: in_force

(a) All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane and no motor vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane. This subsection shall not apply to motorcycles operated two abreast in a single lane.

(b) The operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken.

(c) No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.

(d) Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane.

(e) Subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply to police officers in the performance of their official duties. [L 1971, c 150, pt of §1; am L 2018, c 218, §§6, 9]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-5 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-5
State highway safety and modernization council.
Status: in_force

(a) There is established the Hawaii highway safety and modernization council. The council shall be chaired on an annually rotating basis by a member appointed by the president of the senate and a member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. In addition to the member appointed by the president of the senate and member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, the following or their designated representatives shall be members of the council: the chief justice, the attorney general, the director of health, the superintendent of education, the executive director of the state public charter school commission, the president of the University of Hawaii, the chairperson of the University of Hawaii at Manoa department of urban and regional planning, the co-chairpersons of the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission, the director of the office of planning and sustainable development, the chief energy officer of the Hawaii state energy office, an additional two members appointed by the president of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives, respectively, the chairperson of each of the county highway safety councils established under section 286-6, and not more than twelve other persons who shall be appointed by the governor for a three-year term as follows:

(1) One member from an organization representing senior citizens;

(2) One member from an organization representing bicyclists;

(3) One member from an organization having a focus on micro-mobility;

(4) One member from an organization having a focus on transportation, planning, and improvement;

(5) One member from an organization having a focus on reducing the cost of transportation for low-income communities;

(6) One member from an organization representing labor and construction;

(7) One member from an organization representing trucking and cargo carriers;

(8) One member from an organization having a focus on the electrification of transportation;

(9) One member from an organization having a focus on expanding trees and foliage and reducing urban heat;

(10) One member from an organization representing the automobile manufacturing industry; and

(11) Up to two members on the basis of their interest in transportation safety and related state goals.

(b) The state highway safety and modernization council shall:

(1) Review programs, projects, plans, and strategies related to improving safety in ground transportation in the department of transportation;

(2) Ensure transparency and oversight in programs, projects, decisions, and spending related to ground transportation in the department of transportation ;

(3) Establish metrics and benchmarks for the department of transportation to ensure progress on state goals related to ground transportation, safety, and other related goals;

(4) Review projects in development and make recommendations for how each project might be improved, if warranted, to better meet state goals, before project plans and designs are finalized;

(5) Provide direction to the department of transportation and make recommendations to the legislature as necessary to ensure progress on state goals related to ground transportation, safety, and other related goals;

(6) Advise the governor, legislature, and public on matters relating to the programs, activities, projects, outcomes, and recommendations of the State in the field of transportation safety; and

(7) Submit an annual report to the department of transportation that reflects the work, responsibilities, and recommendations of the council.

(c) The members of the council shall serve without pay but shall be entitled to reimbursement for necessary expenses while attending meetings and while in discharge of their duties. [L 1967, c 214, pt of §2; HRS §286-5; am L Sp 1977 1st, c 20, §12; am L 1982, c 147, §13; gen ch 1993; am L 2023, c 242, §2]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-55 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-55
[ §291C-55] Oversized commercial vehicles; prohibition from using left lane.
Status: in_force

[ §291C-55] Oversized commercial vehicles; prohibition from using left lane. (a) Upon any roadway having three or more lanes for traffic moving in the same direction, no commercial vehicle weighing ten thousand pounds or more shall be driven in the far left lane unless:

(1) The commercial vehicle is able to maintain speed with existing traffic flow; and

(2) The commercial vehicle is in the process of overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing such movement.

(b) This section shall not apply to commercial vehicles occupying the left lane for the purpose of turning left or exiting, or preparing to turn left or exit.

(c) For the purposes of this section, "commercial vehicle" shall have the same meaning as in section 291-11.5. "Commercial vehicle" does not include buses or van pools operated by the counties. [L 2023, c 238, §1]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-164 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-164
Procedure upon arrest.
Status: in_force

Except when authorized or directed under state law to immediately take a person arrested for a violation of any of the traffic laws before a district judge, any authorized police officer, upon making an arrest for violation of the state traffic laws shall take the name, address, and driver's license number of the alleged violator and the registered license number of the motor vehicle involved and shall issue to the driver in writing a summons or citation, hereinafter described, notifying the driver to answer to the complaint to be entered against the driver at a place and at a time provided in the summons or citation.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-106.5 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-106.5
Expiration of licenses; out-of-country active duty military personnel and dependents.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding section 286-106, the expired driver's license of a member of any component of the United States armed forces who is on active federal service, or the member's dependent if the dependent accompanied the member, and whose driver's license expired while the member was deployed outside the United States, shall remain valid for ninety days after the service member's return to the United States.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291-17 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291 / Section 291-17
Mobile electronic devices; use while operating a commercial motor vehicle prohibited.
Status: in_force

(a) No person with a commercial driver's license shall use a mobile electronic device, including using the mobile electronic device for texting as defined under section 286-231, while operating a commercial motor vehicle, as defined under section 286-2.

(b) The use of a mobile electronic device for the sole purpose of making a "911" emergency communication shall be an affirmative defense to this section.

(c) The following persons shall be exempt from the provisions of subsection (a):

(1) Emergency responders using a mobile electronic device while in the performance and scope of their official duties;

(2) Drivers using two-way radios while in the performance and scope of their work-related duties and who are operating motor carrier vehicles as defined in section 286-201; and

(3) Drivers holding a valid amateur radio operator license issued by the Federal Communications Commission and using a half-duplex two-way radio.

(d) Any person who is convicted of violating subsection (a) shall be fined not more than $2,750 in addition to the driving disqualification of section 286-240(e).

(e) As used in this section:

"Emergency responders" means any firefighters, emergency medical technicians, mobile intensive care technicians, emergency management workers, police officers, and federal and state law enforcement officers.

"Mobile electronic device" means any handheld or other portable electronic equipment recognized by the citing officer or other witness to be capable of providing wireless or data communications, or both, between two or more persons or of providing amusement, including but not limited to a cellular phone, text messaging device, paging device, personal digital assistant, laptop computer, video game, or digital photographic device, or any device to input, write, send, receive, or read text, but does not include any equipment installed in a commercial motor vehicle for the purpose of providing audio, navigation, or emergency assistance to the operator of the commercial motor vehicle or video entertainment to the passengers in the rear seats of the commercial motor vehicle. A "two-way radio" or Private Land Mobile Radio System as defined by title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 90, when used for business purposes, shall not be considered to be a "mobile electronic device".

"Operate a commercial motor vehicle" means to drive or assume actual physical control of a commercial motor vehicle upon a public way, street, road, or highway in the State.

"Texting" means the same as defined under [section] 286-231.

"Use or using a mobile electronic device" means holding a mobile electronic device while operating a commercial motor vehicle. [L 2012, c 311, §1; am L 2014, c 111, §28]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-104 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-104
Which persons shall not be licensed.
Status: in_force

The examiner of drivers shall not issue any license to any person:

(1) Whose license has been suspended by a court of competent jurisdiction during the suspension period, nor to any person whose license has been revoked until the expiration of one year after the date of the revocation, or until the expiration of the period of revocation specified by law, whichever is greater, except as provided under sections 286-102.6(d) and 286-102.6(e) for suspensions and revocations of a provisional license; nor to any person who, while unlicensed, has within two years been convicted of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant or, prior to January 1, 2002, of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs;

(2) Who is required by this part to take an examination, unless the person has successfully passed the examination;

(3) Who is required under the motor vehicle financial responsibility laws of this State to deposit proof of financial responsibility and who has not deposited the proof;

(4) Who the examiner of drivers has good cause to believe would not be able to operate a motor vehicle with safety upon the highways by reason of physical or mental disability;

(5) Who is under eighteen years of age; provided that a person:

(A) Who is fifteen years and six months of age may be granted an instruction permit;

(B) Who is at least sixteen and less than eighteen years of age may be granted a provisional license upon satisfying the requirements of section 286-102.6;

(C) Who is at least seventeen and less than eighteen years of age may be granted a license upon satisfying the requirements of section 286-102.6, which license may be suspended or revoked by a judge having jurisdiction over the holder of the license. Upon revocation of the license, the person shall not be eligible to operate a motor vehicle on the highway until the person is eighteen years of age and has again satisfied the requirements of sections 286-108 and 286-109; or

(D) Who is an emancipated minor may be granted a license upon satisfaction of all requirements of this chapter applicable to persons eighteen years of age or older;

(6) Who is not in compliance with section 286-102.5; or

(7) Who does not submit proof, satisfactory to the director, that the applicant's presence in the United States is authorized by federal law. The director shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 that provide for standards of proof and for exemptions from this requirement.

Any person denied a license under this or any other section of this part shall have a right of appeal as provided in section 286-129. [L 1937, c 234, §4; am L 1943, c 121, §1; RL 1945, §7304; am L 1947, c 38, §1; RL 1955, §160-34; am L 1967, c 214, §8; HRS §286-104; am L 1970, c 164, §3 and c 188, §39; am L 1980, c 54, §1; am L 1985, c 258, §2; gen ch 1985; am L 1990, c 34, §15; am L 1996, c 36, §1; am L 1997, c 153, §1 and c 330, §2; am L 1999, c 175, §1; am L 2001, c 86, §3 and c 157, §6; am L 2002, c 16, §13; am L 2005, c 72, §§3, 15; am L 2010, c 38, §1 and c 85, §2]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-107 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-107
License renewals; procedures and requirements.
Status: in_force

(a) The examiner of drivers may accept an application for a renewal of a driver's license made not more than six months prior to the date of expiration.

If, however, the renewal is not applied for within ninety days after the expiration of the license, the applicant for renewal shall be treated as an applicant for a new license and examined as provided in section 286-108.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c), an applicant for a renewal of a driver's license under this section, or the reactivation of an expired license under section 286-107.5(a), shall appear in person before the examiner of drivers and the examiner of drivers shall administer such physical examinations as the state director of transportation deems necessary to determine the applicant's fitness to continue to operate a motor vehicle.

(c) Any person who holds a category (1), (2), or (3) license issued under this part may apply for a renewal of the license online via any electronic or digital means provided by the examiner of drivers, or by mail, if the person is not disqualified from renewing the license under subsection (a) except as provided under subsection (h). The applicant's request to have the license renewed by mail must be received by the examiner of drivers within ninety days after the expiration of the license or it shall be treated as an application for reactivation of an expired license under section 286-107.5. The examiner of drivers shall, upon receipt of the request, furnish the applicant with all necessary forms and instructions. An application for renewal made by electronic or digital means or by mail pursuant to this subsection shall be accompanied by a statement from a licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse certifying that the applicant was examined by the licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse no more than six months before the expiration date of the applicant's license and that the applicant was found by the examination to have met the physical requirements established by the state director of transportation for the renewal of licenses. The application for renewal by electronic or digital means or by mail shall also be accompanied by:

(1) A notarized statement of the applicant certifying that the applicant does not possess any valid license to operate the same or similar category or categories of motor vehicles, issued by another licensing authority (unless the license is concurrently surrendered); and

(2) Any other information as may be required by the examiner of drivers that is reasonably necessary to confirm the identity of the applicant and the applicant's fitness to continue to operate a motor vehicle.

(d) An applicant for a renewal of the applicant's driver's license, whether applying pursuant to subsections (b) or (c), shall pay the fee determined by the council of the appropriate county. Payment of the fee shall be by certified check or money order, tendered together with the application.

(e) No driver's license shall be renewed by the examiner of drivers unless:

(1) The examiner of drivers is satisfied of the applicant's fitness to continue to operate a motor vehicle;

(2) The fee required by subsection (d) is tendered together with the application for renewal;

(3) The applicant complies with section 286-102.5; and

(4) The examiner of drivers is satisfied that the applicant does not have outstanding charges and fines relating to the disposition of an abandoned vehicle .

(f) No driver's license shall be renewable by electronic or digital means or by mail:

(1) For more than two consecutive renewals, regardless of whether the license expires, as provided under section 286-106, on the eighth or fourth birthday after issuance ; or

(2) Sixteen years have lapsed since the applicant had appeared in person;

provided that this subsection shall not apply to a resident military person or that person's immediate family if the resident military person resides outside the State on official military orders.

(g) Notwithstanding subsection (a), any applicant for a renewal of a driver's license who is a member of any component of the United States armed forces and who is on active federal service outside of the State at the time the applicant's license should be renewed, may file an application for a renewal of the driver's license, which shall be accompanied by verification of federal active service outside the State as required by the examiner of drivers, within ninety days of the applicant's return to the State or discharge from hospitalization. The examiner of drivers may waive the reactivation fee otherwise required by section 286-107.5.

(h) The state director of transportation shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to chapter 91, necessary for the purposes of this section, including rules and regulations governing the effect to be given to convictions for violations of traffic laws of a foreign jurisdiction, upon license renewal procedures. [L 1974, c 97, §3; am L 1975, c 194, §§1, 2; am L Sp 1977 1st, c 20, §12; gen ch 1985; am L 1986, c 232, §1; am L 1987, c 318, §1; am L 1997, c 60, §§2, 3 and c 330, §4; am L 2001, c 86, §4; am L 2002, c 48, §1; am L 2006, c 221, §1; am L 2009, c 151, §4; am L 2014, c 45, §3; am L 2016, c 15, §1; am L 2022, c 229, §6; am L 2023, c 243, §1]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 287-12 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 287 / Section 287-12
Custody, disposition, and return of security.
Status: in_force

Security deposited in compliance with the requirements of this chapter shall be placed by the administrator in the custody of the county treasurer or director of finance and shall be applicable only to the payment of a judgment or judgments rendered against the person or persons on whose behalf the deposit was made, for damages arising out of the accident in question in an action, begun not later than one year after the date of the accident or within one year after the date of deposit of any security under section 287-9(3), and the deposit or any balance thereof shall be returned to the depositor or the depositor's personal representative when:

(1) Pursuant to section 287-8(5), evidence satisfactory to the administrator has been filed with the administrator that there has been a release from liability, or a final adjudication of nonliability, or the execution of a duly acknowledged written agreement; or

(2) After the expiration of one year from the date of the accident or from the date of deposit of any security under section 287-9(3), the administrator is given reasonable evidence that there is no pending action and no judgment rendered in the action left unpaid.

The security deposited shall not be subject to any attachment or execution unless the attachment or execution arises out of a suit for damages as described in this section. [L 1949, c 393, pt of §1; RL 1955, §160-91; HRS §287-12; am L 1980, c 84, pt of §1; gen ch 1985; am L 2020, c 70, §36]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-7 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-7
[ §291C-7] High-risk and dangerous corridors and intersections.
Status: in_force

[ §291C-7] High-risk and dangerous corridors and intersections. (a) The department of transportation and county transportation agencies having jurisdiction over roads, highways, and similar infrastructure shall:

(1) Define and regularly perform evaluations to identify high-risk or dangerous corridors and intersections, based on relevant statistics including crashes, injuries, fatalities, or similar measures; and

(2) Develop and prioritize for implementation plans to address safety and allow access for all users in each corridor or intersection identified as high-risk or dangerous.

(b) When rehabilitation or other changes to a high-risk or dangerous corridor or intersection are planned or implemented by the department of transportation or county transportation agency, priority shall be given to changes that maximize safety and provide access to separated or protected infrastructure that separates vehicles from pedestrians, persons on bicycles and mobility devices, and other vulnerable users. [L 2024, c 180, §2]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-63 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-63
Shape, size and color of plates; how affixed.
Status: in_force

The special license plate shall be similar in shape, size and color to the regulation passenger motor vehicle number plate prescribed by law, and shall bear the official amateur radio call letters of the applicant, as assigned by the Federal Communications Commission. The special license plate shall be securely fastened to the passenger motor vehicle in lieu of the regulation number plate; provided that the regulation tag or emblem issued each year shall be affixed to the passenger motor vehicle or the special license plate in the manner provided in section 249-7.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-4.1 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-4.1
Medical advisory board.
Status: in_force

(a) There is established within the office of the state director of transportation for administrative purposes a medical advisory board consisting of not fewer than five physicians licensed to practice in the State. The members of the board shall be appointed by the governor as provided in section 26-34, except as otherwise provided by this section. The board shall consist of physicians with an interest in one or more of the following:

(1) Psychiatry;

(2) Neurology;

(3) Orthopedics;

(4) Ophthalmology or optometry;

(5) Endocrinology;

(6) Geriatrics; or

(7) Addiction medicine.

The members of the board shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expense, actually incurred in the performance of their duties under this chapter.

(b) The duties of the board shall include:

(1) The development of a system for medically evaluating persons who an examiner of drivers has reason to believe have mental or physical conditions that might impair their driving ability; and

(2) The furnishing of advice to the examiners of drivers respecting medical criteria and vision standards for motor vehicle drivers. [L 1969, c 128, §1(4); am L 1970, c 164, §3; am L Sp 1977 1st, c 20, §12; am L 1991, c 128, §1; am L 2016, c 120, §1]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 287-30 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 287 / Section 287-30
Excess coverage permitted.
Status: in_force

Any policy which grants the coverage required for a motor vehicle liability policy may also grant any lawful coverage in excess of or in addition to the coverage specified for a motor vehicle liability policy and the excess or additional coverage shall not be subject to this chapter. With respect to a policy which grants such excess or additional coverage the term "motor vehicle liability policy" shall apply only to that part of the coverage which is required by this chapter.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-58 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-58
Appeal from finance director's decision.
Status: in_force

Whenever any person is aggrieved by any decision of any county director of finance under this part, the person may appeal from the decision of the director of finance to the district court of the circuit in which the county is situated, by filing with the court, within twenty days after the decision, or within such additional time as may have been consented to in writing by the director of finance, an informal notice of appeal setting forth the name of the appellant, the circumstances attending the decision, a general statement as to the ruling appealed from, the date of the decision, and a description of the motor vehicle involved, with the serial or motor number or both, if available. A copy of the notice shall be served upon, or mailed, postage prepaid, by registered mail with request for return receipt, to the director of finance within two days after the date of the filing with the court. Informalities in the notice shall not invalidate the notice, and the notice may be amended for good cause shown to the satisfaction of the court.

Revision Note

"Director of finance" substituted for "treasurer" to conform to county charters.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-35 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-35
Lane-direction-control signals.
Status: in_force

When lane-direction-control signals are placed over the individual lanes of a street or highway, vehicular traffic may travel in any lane over which a green signal is shown, but shall not enter or travel in any lane over which a red signal is shown.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-169 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-169
When complaint to be issued.
Status: in_force

In the event any person fails to comply with a penal summons given to such person or attached to a vehicle, or if any person fails or refuses to deposit bail as required and within the time permitted, the court shall forthwith issue a warrant for the person's arrest.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 287-17 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 287 / Section 287-17
Suspension to continue until judgments paid and proof given.
Status: in_force

The license shall remain so suspended and shall not be renewed, nor shall any such license be thereafter issued in the name of the person, including any such person not previously licensed, unless and until every such judgment is stayed, satisfied in full or to the extent hereinafter provided, and until the person gives proof of financial responsibility subject to the exceptions stated in sections 287-16 and 287-19.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 290-13 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 290 / Section 290-13
[ §290-13] Abandoned vehicles; prohibition on transfer; suspension, revocation, or prohibition of renewal of driver's license; notification.
Status: in_force

[ §290-13] Abandoned vehicles; prohibition on transfer; suspension, revocation, or prohibition of renewal of driver's license; notification. (a) The county director of finance shall deny issuance of a certificate of registration, in accordance with section 286-51, and prohibit completion of any transfer of ownership, in accordance with sections 286-52 and 286-52.5, of an abandoned vehicle whose registered owner has outstanding charges and fines relating to the disposition of the abandoned vehicle, including for costs related to towing, storage, processing, and disposal.

(b) The county director of finance shall notify the appropriate county examiner of drivers of any registered owners of abandoned vehicles in the county who have outstanding charges and fines relating to the disposition of an abandoned vehicle. The county examiner of drivers shall then suspend, revoke, or prohibit the renewal of the registered owner's driver's license in accordance with sections 286-107 and 286-119. [L 2022, c 229, §2]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-121 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-121
Suspending or revoking privileges of nonresident and reporting convictions, suspensions, and revocations.
Status: in_force

(a) The privilege of driving a motor vehicle on the highways of this State given to a nonresident hereunder shall be subject to suspension or revocation in like manner and for like cause as a driver's license issued hereunder may be suspended or revoked.

(b) The examiner of drivers is further authorized, upon receiving a record of the conviction in this State of a nonresident for any motor vehicle offense, to forward a certified copy of such record to the motor vehicle administrator in the state wherein the person so convicted is a resident.

(c) When a nonresident's operating privilege is suspended or revoked, the examiner of drivers shall forward a certified copy of the record of such action to the motor vehicle administrator in the state wherein such person resides. [L 1937, c 234, §20; RL 1945, §7321; RL 1955, §160-53; am L 1967, c 214, §12; HRS §286-121; am L 1970, c 164, §3; am L 1971, c 127, pt of §3]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291D-14 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291D / Section 291D-14
Rules.
Status: in_force

(a) The supreme court may adopt rules of procedure for the conduct of all proceedings pursuant to this chapter.

(b) Chapter 626 shall not apply in proceedings conducted pursuant to this chapter, except for the rules governing privileged communications, and proceedings conducted under section 291D-13.

(c) Notwithstanding section 604-17, while the court is sitting in any matter pursuant to this chapter, the court shall not be required to preserve the testimony or proceedings, except proceedings conducted pursuant to section 291D-13 and proceedings in which the traffic infraction, emergency period infraction, or fireworks infraction is heard on the same date and time as any related criminal offense.

(d) The prosecuting attorney shall not participate in traffic infraction, emergency period infraction, or fireworks infraction proceedings conducted pursuant to this chapter, except proceedings pursuant to section 291D-13 and proceedings in which a related criminal offense is scheduled for arraignment, hearing, or concurrent trial.

(e) Chapter 91 shall not apply in proceedings before the court.

(f) Except as otherwise provided in section 291D-3, chapter 571 and the Hawaii family court rules shall not apply in any proceedings conducted pursuant to this chapter. [L 1993, c 214, pt of §2; am L 2007, c 85, §10; am L 2021, c 185, §15; am L 2025, c 243, §29]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-222.5 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 291C / Section 291C-222.5
School buses; zipper lanes.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the director of transportation shall allow school buses, regardless of number of occupants, to be used on contraflow lanes that have been designated as zipper or zip lanes by the department of transportation.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-307 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-307
Identification cards not to be altered; duties of holder; lost certificates.
Status: in_force

(a) No individual, except agents of the examiner acting pursuant to the authority of law, shall alter, deface, or destroy any identification card. Except as specifically authorized by this section or the rules of the director, no cardholder shall loan or give the individual's identification card to any other individual, and no individual shall use the identification card of any other individual.

(b) Any individual whose identification card is stolen or otherwise lost, altered, defaced, or destroyed, may at any time apply for a duplicate identification card. The duplicate shall be issued by the examiner of drivers upon being satisfied as to the loss, alteration, defacing, or destruction. In the case of an altered or defaced identification card, the identification card, if available, shall be surrendered by the cardholder and canceled by the examiner.

(c) Any individual finding or coming into possession of the identification card of any other individual shall promptly return or deliver the same to the owner thereof, the examiner of drivers that issued it, or any law enforcement officer. [L 2012, c 310, pt of §2]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-128 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-128
Evaluation of nonresident driving privileges; reports of outside convictions; reports of convictions by courts-martial or United States commissioners.
Status: in_force

(a) Nonresident privilege of driving a motor vehicle. The privilege of driving a motor vehicle on the highways of this State and the several counties, given to a nonresident under the laws of this State, shall be subject to suspension by the district judge in like manner, and for like cause, the same as a driver's license issued by this State may be suspended.

(b) Reports of outside convictions; recording against drivers. The district judges of each county shall enter into reciprocal agreements with the proper agency of any other county and the governor of the State may enter into such agreements with any state or territory for the purpose of reporting convictions or bail forfeitures in such county, state, or territory by a person holding a driver's license in such county, state, or territory. Such convictions or bail forfeitures in such county, state, or territory of a violation therein which if committed in this State would be a violation of the traffic laws of this State or the ordinances of the several counties, shall be recorded against a driver the same as if the conviction or bail forfeiture had been made in the State.

(c) Reports of convictions by courts-martial or United States commissioners; recording against drivers. Convictions by courts-martial of any of the various branches of the armed forces of the United States or by a United States commissioner of a violation either on or off government property which, if committed in this State, would be a violation of the traffic laws of this State or the ordinances of the several counties, may be recorded against a driver the same as if the conviction had been in the courts of this State.

(d) Upon determination and order by a district judge that a person has violated traffic laws of the State or ordinances of its counties with such frequency as to indicate a disrespect for such laws or ordinances and a disregard for the safety of other persons on the highways within a twelve-month period, the licensee shall report in person for a review of the licensee's driving record with the judge as directed by the judge if the licensee is present in court. If the licensee is not present in court when the district judge makes a determination and order that the licensee has violated traffic laws of the State or ordinances of its counties with such frequency as to indicate a disrespect for such laws or ordinances and a disregard for the safety of other persons on the highways within a twelve-month period and is directed to report in person for a review of the licensee's driving record, then the clerk of the district court shall notify the licensee in writing by certified mail, return receipt requested, to addressee only, that the licensee is directed to report in person, within fifteen days after receipt of the notice to report, for a review of the licensee's driving record with the judge. At the review, the judge may order a licensee who has violated traffic laws of the State or ordinances of its counties with such frequency as to indicate a disrespect for such laws or ordinances and a disregard for the safety of other persons on the highways within a twelve-month period to attend a course of instruction in driving retraining by a designated driver instructor or driver training school. Any person who fails to report in person for a review of the person's driving record with the judge as required by this subsection or who fails to attend a course of instruction in driver retraining pursuant to the order of the judge as required by this subsection shall be fined not more than $100 or shall have the person's license suspended not more than one year, or both. [L 1961, c 113, pt of §1; Supp, §160-70; am L 1967, c 214, §13; HRS §286-128; am L 1968, c 48, §3; am L 1970, c 164, §3 and c 188, §39; am L 1973, c 135, §2; am L 1975, c 139, §1; am L Sp 1977 1st, c 20, §12; am L 1978, c 222, §§3, 4; gen ch 1985; am L 1993, c 214, §6; am L 1994, c 94, §§1, 2; am L 1997, c 60, §4]
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 286-105 — HI Code / Division 1 / Title 17 / Chapter 286 / Section 286-105
What persons are exempt from license.
Status: in_force

The following persons are exempt from license:

(1) Any person while driving or operating a motor vehicle in the service or employ of any branch or agency of the federal government; provided that the person has received a license or permit from the branch or agency to operate and drive the motor vehicle; provided further that the branch or agency has been duly authorized by the federal government to issue the license or permit;

(2) Any person while driving or operating any road machine, farm tractor, or implement of husbandry temporarily operated or moved on a highway, or tractor trucks, forklifts, and top picks being used as marine terminal equipment temporarily moving in or between terminals at:

(A) Sand Island and along Sand Island Parkway and Sand Island Access Road;

(B) Kalanianaole Avenue between Kuhio Street and Kahanu Street, abutting Hilo Harbor;

(C) Kawaihae-Mahukona Road abutting Kawaihae Harbor;

(D) East Kaahumanu Avenue between Hobron Avenue and Kane Street, abutting Kahului Harbor; and

(E) Waipaa Road abutting Nawiliwili Harbor;

provided that no person under the age of thirteen years shall be permitted to drive or operate any such road machine, farm tractor, implement of husbandry, on a highway, or tractor trucks, forklifts, and top picks being used as marine terminal equipment temporarily moving in or between terminals identified in subparagraphs (A) through (E);

(3) Any person who is at least eighteen years of age and who has in the person's possession a valid driver's license to drive the categories of motor vehicles listed in section 286-102(b), except section 286-102(b)(4), that is equivalent to a driver's license issued in this State but was issued to the person in another state of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, a province of the Dominion of Canada, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for that category of motor vehicle that the person is operating;

(4) Any person who has in the person's possession a valid commercial motor vehicle driver's license issued by any state of the United States, Mexico, or a province of the Dominion of Canada that issues licenses in accordance with the minimum federal standards for the issuance of commercial motor vehicle driver's licenses; and

(5) Any person who drives or operates state or county motor vehicles while employed by, in the service of, or volunteering for the state or county fire departments; provided that they are trained and certified to drive category (4) motor vehicles as set forth in section 286-102(b)(4) by the state or county government, as appropriate; provided further that the person maintains a category (3) license as set forth in section 286-102(b)(3). [L 1937, c 234, §3; RL 1945, §7303; am L Sp 1949, c 19, §3; RL 1955, §160-33; am L 1957, c 82, §1 and c 159, §1; am L 1967, c 214, §7; HRS §286-105; am L 1970, c 164, §3; am L 1971, c 127, §2; am L 1972, c 2, pt of §6; am L 1976, c 5, §2; am L 1979, c 108, §1; gen ch 1985; am L 1986, c 224, §2; am L 1989, c 320, §5; am L 1990, c 11, §1 and c 342, §19; am L 1993, c 268, §1; am L 1997, c 73, §1; am L 2017, c 115, §3; am L 2019, c 220, §3]