HILO — A bill nearing a final vote would require Hawaii counties to dispose of abandoned vehicles on public roads within 10 business days of abandonment.
House Bill 2442 would impose tighter deadlines on counties working to remove abandoned vehicles, as well as additional protocols for how the confiscated vehicles should be handled.
Hawaii statutes currently require counties only to take abandoned vehicles into custody to be “disposed of” without any time frame specified.
The current language of the bill is taken largely from Senate Bill 2479, which replaced earlier drafts of the bill that used similar, yet notably different terms.
For example, a previous draft of the bill would have removed language requiring counties to send a notification to the registered owner of an abandoned vehicle, to be replaced by a simple requirement for owners to reclaim their vehicle within 20 business days of repossession. The current draft, however, retains the current requirement to notify owners, but only if the abandoned vehicle has been reported stolen.
In addition, the bill removes the current requirement for counties to dispose of abandoned vehicles through a public auction. The bill makes no specification as to how the vehicles should be disposed of.
Other changes the bill makes to existing law include slight additions to what constitutes a derelict vehicle. Specifically, the bill states that if a vehicle’s owner has not transferred the title or registration into his or her name within 30 days of the notice of transfer’s submission, the vehicle would be considered abandoned. Also, any vehicle that has not been registered for the past 12 months also would qualify.
While many people and organizations issued statements in support of the bill during several testimony hearings, some groups voiced disapproval — notably, Hawaii County’s Department of Environmental Management, which is in charge of disposing of abandoned vehicles on the island.
“Requiring (Hawaii County) to take all abandoned vehicles into custody within 10 business days of abandonment imposes a burden on (the county) to meet this timeline while juggling its manpower and budgetary constraints,” wrote William Kucharski, Environmental Management director.
Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa agreed, writing: “Realistically, the volume of abandoned vehicles that have been reported exceeds counties’ ability to remove them within a 10-day period. To my knowledge, all of the counties’ abandoned vehicles programs are understaffed and budgets are stretched to limits.” Arakawa said he would support the bill if the 10-day provision was removed.
The bill will go before its final committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, during a hearing today that will include additional testimony. If it passes the committee, it will go to a final Senate vote.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
Is there a company (companies) on the island that handle junked cars? If so, contract with that company (companies) to remove abandoned vehicles , company to provide liability insurance naming the County of Hawaii. Let them have the vehicles. No cost to the taxpayer.
It is time to charge a fee on new cars for their end time. Then have yard where they can be taken (maybe some of the larger transfer stations). If it is free, and there is a heavy fine for dumping them on our roads (some of that fine can be given to the person who turns in the dumper) the county will not be having to spend so much money to tow and dispose of the cars.
The current system helps to enrich the wrong people (mostly chop shops) at tax payer’s expense. Not to mention, these cars are an eye sore and become scavenge sites for some pretty shady types.
Hold the last registered owner financially responsible. Been done everywhere. What makes island junk cars so different?!?
Oh the stress! The strain!!
We need a raise for not doing our jobs for the past 10 years!!
There are just soooo many abandoned cars!!!
…which we have ignored!!
We need our cushy salary, cushy pension, cushy medical, cushy, cushy, cushy,
and YOU should take care of the abandoned cars!!
…(and how is your water doing? Maybe we should fire the cops, fire, and medical go…)