Collection of Tow truck operators can charge more to haul away illegally parked cars, Hawaii wine drinkers can import more exotic brands and travelers have new protections against bad travel agents.
new laws covers a
variety of topics
From wines to dogs to checks,
the new laws address a whole
host of public areasBy Bruce Dunford
Associated PressAn array of new laws takes effect today, affecting a wide variety of business and personal transactions.
On Oahu, single adult fares for TheBus go to $1.50 from $1, while students must pay 75 cents instead of the current 50 cents. Monthly fares rise to $27 from $25 for adults and to $13.50 from $12.50 for students. Handivan fares also increase.
Effective today, tow companies statewide are able to increase their various towing fees by $5 and their mileage charges from $5 to $6.50. Lawmakers approving the increase said it was justified due to the rising gasoline and operating costs and general inflation.
The fees apply to owners of vehicles towed because they are parked illegally on either public or private property.
Wine manufacturers in states that have reciprocal shipping laws are now able to ship to Hawaii buyers up to two cases as long as it is for personal use and not for resale. Under the two-way agreement, Hawaii's wine makers can ship to those states.
While giving local wine fanciers a selection beyond brands available locally, the new law allows Hawaii wine makers to broaden their market beyond Hawaii.
Effective today, bus fares will be going up for the first time since 1995. City officials say passengers need to take a larger share of cost for a service now subsidized by 75 percent. FARES GOING UP
Source: City & County of Honolulu -- Star-Bulletin graphic
Old
New
Adult cash fare $1.00
$1.50
Youth cash fare $0.50
$0.75
Adult monthly pass $25.00
$27.00
Youth monthly pass $12.50
$13.50
Adult annual pass NA
$300.00
Youth annual pass NA
$150.00
Senior cash fare $0.50
$0.75
Senior 2-year pass $20.00
$25.00
Disabled cash fare $0.50
$0.75
Disabled 2-year pass $20.00
$25.00
Visitor 4-day pass $10.00
$15.00
Football Express fare $2.00
$3.00
Handi-Van cash fare $1.50
$2.00
Volcano Vineyards LLC, Tedeschi Vineyards, Ltd., and the Wine Institute said Hawaii's small wineries have difficulty finding wholesalers to distribute their wines on the mainland and depend on being able to ship directly to consumers in other states.
Many customers are tourists who want the Hawaii wines but don't want to carry bottles while on vacation, supporters said.
When Jimmy's Travel in Honolulu got into financial trouble in 1998, it left 1,300 customers with worthless travel packages to Las Vegas, costing them a total of more than $750,000.
To curb similar incidents, a new law adopts tougher regulation of travel agents and charter tour services.
It includes additional registration and client trust account record-keeping requirements, adds remedies and penalties, and spells out specific prohibited practices.
Another consumer protection bill keeps in place the two-year pilot project passed in 1999 to tighten regulations on check-cashing businesses. It sets caps on the fees that may be charged, requires notice of fees to potential customers and makes violations of the act punishable by a maximum fine of $500 and 30 days in jail.
For example, the fee allowed for cashing a paycheck is 5 percent of the face value, or at least $5, and 10 percent of the face value or at least $5 for cashing a personal check or money order.
Two new laws are aimed at protecting children.
One establishes mandatory hearing-impairment screening for newborn infants.
Lawmakers say infants who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and receive intervention before the age of six months maintain language development through age 5.
Early detection also helps parents and family members cope with the emotional responses to a deaf or hard-of-hearing child which may affect bonding, lawmakers said.
The other new law requires social workers dealing with foster children to use an "Ohana conference" that includes members of the child's extended family and community in making long-term decisions about the child's protection and future.
Also taking effect today:
>> Hawaii's two interisland air carriers, Hawaiian and Aloha airlines, get a general excise tax exemption from the rental or leasing of aircraft or aircraft engines.
>> Fees charged to law offices by off-duty sheriff deputies and police officers for serving civil summonses go up, including an option of at least $50 an hour.
>> Counties gain authority to pass laws against vicious dogs.
>> Two seats are added to the state's Intermediate Court of Appeals, increasing the number of associate justice positions to five.
>> The U.S. Department of Defense gets $7,800 as Hawaii's donation to the Women in Military Service and American Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery.
Hawaii State Legislature: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/
