Councilman hopes bill leads to stricter road-rage penalties
GOAKAMAI.ORG
Two Waianae-bound lanes on H-1 freeway near the Kunia off-ramp were closed Aug. 1 as police investigated a stabbing that sent two men to the hospital.
An incident on the H-1 freeway Aug. 1 that left three people with stab wounds and closed several lanes for five hours has prompted a Honolulu city councilman to introduce a bill to discourage road rage.
Councilman Joey Manahan said Monday he’s hoping Bill 50 will lead to stiffer penalties, especially for multiple offenders of road-rage incidents.
The bill, introduced Aug. 12, is expected to get its first airing before the City Council on Sept. 7.
State law already addresses reckless driving, Manahan said, but he’s hoping some additional prohibitions can be included at the city level.
If not, he will lobby the state Legislature for stiffer penalties, and his bill will at least raise public awareness about what penalties could be faced by motorists found guilty of creating a road-rage incident, he said.
Bill 50 creates a new section in the Honolulu Traffic Code that would prohibit motorists from a slew of actions, including:
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>> Brandishing a weapon or other object capable of inflicting death or serious bodily injury.
>> Exiting a vehicle to confront another driver.
>> Repeatedly sounding a car horn, flashing headlights or either accelerating or braking suddenly.
>> Intentionally cutting off another motorist or preventing a driver from merging into a lane.
>> Swerving either to prevent another motorist from passing or to alarm another motorist.
>> Forcing or attempting to force another vehicle off the road.
>> Positioning or stopping a vehicle to prevent another from moving forward.
>> Slowing in front of another vehicle to prevent it from moving at a prevailing speed.
The bill goes on to prohibit passengers from using offensive language or threatening gestures against a person in another vehicle, as well as throwing projectiles or shouting obscenities or threats.
No penalties are specified.
But a state statute regulating bad driving behavior defines a reckless driver as anyone who “operates any vehicle or rides any animal recklessly in disregard of the safety of persons or property.” It lists penalties of up to $1,000, up to 30 days in jail or both.
“What I really want to do is look at second- or third-time offenses for road rage and see if we can (create) more severe penalties for second- and third-time offenders,” Manahan said, noting that the state law is silent on multiple offenses.
Stricter penalties for repeat offenders will make potential road-rage motorists think twice, he said.
Manahan said he was surprised to see news reports showing that Ewa Beach resident Mark Char, the suspect charged in the freeway triple-stabbing incident earlier this month, was already facing trial on a road-rage charge involving an earlier, unrelated incident.
Char was charged with second-degree attempted murder, second-degree assault and third-degree assault for allegedly ramming a car containing two men and then pepper-spraying and stabbing them and a man who came to their aid.
Perhaps road-rage offenders should not be allowed to drive for a while, Manahan said. “I was wondering why (Char) was still able to drive.”
A study by the Auto Insurance Center, which describes itself as “an industry-driven news and information site,” earlier this year proclaimed Hawaii as the state that “feels the most road rage.” Using Instagram posts tagged #roadrage as its measure, the study calculated that from June 2013 to April 2016, there were 5,872 posts per 100,000 motorists. California, which ranked second, had only 3,506 posts per 100,000 motorists.
Among cities, however, Honolulu ranked 22nd in the nation using the same formula.
39 responses to “Councilman hopes bill leads to stricter road-rage penalties”
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It’s already illegal to stab someone …
This is just another ridiculous attempt by a Democrat to get airtime, and a classic example of why abortion should be legal until the age of 25.
“Intentionally cutting off another motorist or preventing a driver from merging into a lane.”
When drivers are prevented from merging into a lane, it’s generally because they don’t want to wait in the appropriate lane and then cut in at the last moment. This bill would encourage such bad behavior.
Totally agree. There are many places where there is a long line of cars and then those ainokea impatient drivers who want to “cut in line”.
Agree. If you want to prevent road rage, how’s about ticketing the cause, rather than prosecuting the effects?
agree!!!!!
Like the Aiea/pearl city merge going westbound.
Everyone will drive down the open aiea lane, then cut in to go to pearl city.
For some reason, the State Dept. of Transportation has previously said they ENCOURAGE people to do that (drive in the wrong lane then cut in at the last minute). They want people to utilize all available lanes, or something like that. But I agree, it creates road rage in the people who lined up and waited their turn.
The problem is people do not know how to drive!!!! You are supposed to fill up the merge lane until the end otherwise you wast highway space, this is our problem people not know the proper way to co exist on the road.
Slow drivers in the left lane, people gas and braking instead of moving at a slow steady pace, and get off of the cell phones. It is too easy to get a drivers license in Hawaii, we need to start revoking it from people that dont know the law like a simple one, “you are supposed to wait in the middle of the intersection when making a left turn and NOT at the line!!!!
Nicely said.
Yes. Like those of Fort Weaver road in the morning that bypass the 15 minute long wait to get on the freeway and then cut in at the last second! You know who you are.
Longer solid lines and enforcement for crossers – $500!
enforcement badly needed. bring cameras back.
Just remember that it’s only illegal to cross double solid white lines. Single solid white lane lines are just advisories of potentially dangerous situations.
(3) A solid white line is used to indicate the edge of the traffic lane where travel in the same direction is permitted on both sides of the line but where movement from lane to lane is considered to be hazardous. A solid white line may be crossed only in unusual circumstances and then only with great care. A double width solid white line is used to emphasize a greater degree of hazard. – See more at: http://codes.findlaw.com/hi/division-1-government/hi-rev-st-sect-291c-38.html#sthash.5MYM8D5K.dpuf
The number of ignorant and inconsiderate drivers only adds to the increased possibility of road rage incidents.
Useless law that are impossible to enforce or prove in terms of how you drive. Threatening somone with a dangerous instrument is already a law. The real problem is the court system and judges did not put Char in jail for all of his prior acts of violence. Manahan trying to get media attention and pretend his law will protect drivers from road rages incidents. If Manahan wants to do something that would make a difference, he can work toward shutting down the useless Oahu train to nowhere project that is INCREASING traffic gridlock and increasing road rage incidences due to frustrated drivers stuck in traffic. Manahan can demand the state end the moratorium on alll new Oahu road improvment projects supposedly due to lack of money although the governor says Hawaii has a 1 billion surplus.
Exactly correct Inverse. Also most are traffic violations, PD won’t cite unless they observe. Cops came to my house once because I yelled a another driver, I asked them if I did anything wrong, they said no, that they were there because I answered the door. Then they left.
Agree in part. Morality and ethics has been legislated to no end and yet the problems persists. More laws only cloud the air of having another avenue to arrest and not solve human behavior. Morality of our politicians are the cause of our citizens act. Look at the moral strengths of our Presidential candidates and it citizens are reflections on how we look at the laws, to broken with little or no consequences. A politician can lie and cheat and gets re-elected. A drunk driver gets arrested and punished with slap on his wrist. Prisoners serving time for non-violent crime is pardoned or amnestied. Legislation is meaningless in changing behaviors. It is inborn and starts at child birth and how one is raised?
The metro will cut down on the number of cars on the road, and will lessen the incidents of road rage. However, the main cause of road rage is peoples lack of respect for others, impulsive behavior, and aggressive driving. Until people have more emotional self control, and more respect and ALOHA for others, road rage incidents will continue and increase. We see this kind of behavior in our civil, religious,social and political discourse everyday.
This is a really dumb and pandering proposal. All of these infractions are already covered under other laws and some of them are silly: no horns or light flashings… these are important features people can use to communicate with one another on the road when necessary.
…oh, and how is anyone supposed to enforce or prosecute “intent”… smh
Any adult male using “Joey” ought to not have car keys or any position of responsibility other than collecting shopping carts at the Wal Mart parking lot.
He has a gambling addiction so he must secure funds i.e.the $225,000 one mile 5ft. fence. Contract awarded to a Las Vegas construction company.
What they need to do is increase the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident. As it is, reckless or drunk drivers have every incentive to flee and hope they never get caught, than to stay and call for aid. The State needs a 20 year penalty for leaving the scene, and they need to enforce it. Eventually the lesson will be learned by the general public.
Great concept in a perfect world, but totally unenforceable in reality.
Seems like a knee jerk reaction to a real problem. This city councilman should be working on reducing road rage and the reasons for it to happen. Some of these problems could be reduced if there was better planning on the part of the city and state on when they close roads. Another area that would help reduce road rage is if there was another form of transportation available. Hopefully the train will help relieve this problem but God only knows when it will be completely built.
Yeah right, like this is going to work. The police don’t enforce the lollygaggers (which I’ve seen causes a lot of road rage), semis driving in the left lane and semis driving with an uncovered load spewing their contents on the cars behind to name a few.
Joey, you’re a nice guy and I like you, but this is probably one of the stu-pi-dest bills I can think of in recent history.
Punishing people for loud voices and gestures? This isn’t 1st grade.
If you want to reduce road rage, why not start at the biggest reason I see people getting pi$$ed off on the freeway–idi0ts who drive slow in the left lane. If someone is going 45mph in the left lane and there’s a mile of clear space ahead of her and a stack of 10 cars trailing her (and yes, I meant HER), she should be fined $500 and lose her license for a year.
That would be a nice start.
I don’t usually get angry when driving, but you hit upon the one thing that has gotten me fired up. People need to learn one courtesy: If you’re not going as fast as the person in front of you, and there are people stacked up behind you, move over!
Rather than this unenforceable bill intended to be a feel good measure for real world problems, I’d advocate for stricter penalties for impaired driving and especially when it involves injury or death. When it involves death at the very least it should be prosecuted as 1st degree negligent homicide (Class B felony I believe) punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Better yet prosecute these cases as manslaughter or even murder when circumstances allow it. No more of these misdemeanor charges that involve deaths, that’s an insult to the victims. I know from 1st had experience as I had a run in with a impaired driver that led to me being investigated for 2nd degree assault after he got out of his car to confront me at a traffic light and I ended up hitting him with my car. Later found out he was impaired which would explain him getting so worked up over a very minor “incident”.
Most of these actions are illegal already. do we really need a law that requires the enforcement of other laws? Either the Councilman is grandstanding or he’s trying to satisfy some important constituents.
Well, we all know who Joey is now don’t we?
Yep. Another one from the same mabuhay stock as Pine, Menor, and Cachola, Manahan is just angry because he wasn’t around long enough to get the brown envelopes from the rail supporters.
How about a law limiting city council terms to two 3-year terms and then O U T????
You can’t legislate stupidity. Even if the laws were tougher, a jerk is still a jerk. You want to start doing something about road rage… have unmarked police cars cruise up and down the Pali and Likiliki Hwy ticketing people who drive 43 MPH in the left lane with 10 cars stacked up behind them. ( how about any highway )
Even better are the M0RONS who drive slowly in the left lane, block up traffic for a mile, and then when pi$$ed off drivers start going around them, they actually have the audacity to get angry and then start tailgating and threatening the other drivers! Want to guess which ethnic category (and what kind of oversized pickup trucks) these individuals fall into, 9 out of 10 times I see it happen?
I’m telling you, CONSTANT highway patrols by HPD, STIFF FINES and LICENSE REVOCATION for anyone who drives slowly in the left lane.
Great! Just pass another law to make something more illegal than it is, already. That’ll solve the problem!
This proposed ordinance is a ridiculous, knee jerk reaction to a road rage incident and is completely unenforceable unless the victim is a police officer. In fact it has the potential to be abused in unintended ways.
State lawmakers only need consider amending the existing reckless driving law to address those people who commit multiple offenses.