Souki continues to pursue traffic cams to curb speeding

The legislative session is about to go into full speed, so now’s a good time to see what traffic-related bills will be up for discussion.

There are more than I have space to write about, but I’ll highlight a few that you may want to pay attention to.

I spoke for a bit with state Rep. Joe Souki, chairman of the state House Transportation Committee. The former speaker is known for his strong support for traffic cameras to catch speeding motorists, and he’s not backing down this session, having introduced House Bill 2789.

There’s a move toward requiring drivers to slow down and give a wide berth to emergency vehicles that are stopped to give aid, inspired by the death of Hono­­lulu police officer Eric Fontes. But that’s not enough, Souki says.

“For me that’s not the problem,” he says. “Most people do that. The problem is speeding, and we need to protect the officers while they’re doing the job. … We’re too dense. Someone’s speeding and suddenly you see an emergency, they can’t handle it.”

The bill would give counties the power to determine where excessive speeding occurs.

Souki has also introduced HB 2153, which would establish toll roads in Hawaii.

Not right away, mind you.

There would first be a study to review the feasibility of either charging tolls on existing state highways and roads or building new toll roads. It would also see where the most appropriate areas for toll gates would be in each county.

“The reason I’m putting in toll roads is because we have tremendous congestion, especially in the west area (of Oahu) and to some extent in the neighbor islands, and if rail should die — and it could presumably do that — we’re not going to resolve the traffic problem,” Souki says.

Proposals to limit or prohibit the practice of people riding in pickup truck beds have been carried over from last year. The House version calls for a full ban on truck-bed passengers, with a $100 fine for violations.

The Senate version allows for truck-bed passengers if they are securely fastened by an “approved passenger restraint system and seated in a secured mounted seat.”

And finally, a bill to be heard Monday would clarify the ignition interlock law.

The law currently requires only first-time drunken drivers to install the in-car breathalyzers. The new measure would extend that to repeat offenders, filling a loophole in a law that took effect last year.

There are tons I didn’t touch on here. I’ll continue to keep an eye on these and more, but sound off if there’s any subject you want to hear more about.