Legislator
sticks out neck
for van camsSen. Kawamoto says this time,
the cams would be just for
red-light enforcement
From photo enforcement at red lights to banning circus elephants and legalizing marijuana, the Hawaii Legislature is out of the gate with bills on a variety of issues.
The controversial "van cam" proposal is back, but this time limited to intersections.
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Both the state Transportation Department and Sen. Cal Kawamoto, Transportation Committee chairman, support photo red-light enforcement.
A 2003 state study of the issue noted that while it could not find conclusive proof that photographing and fining red-light runners prevents accidents, two mainland studies from the National Cooperative Highway Research Program and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show a decline in accidents in areas with the red-light cameras.
"The department concludes that a red-light photo enforcement pilot program would be publicly accepted and useful," the state report says.
Kawamoto (D, Waipahu) said he realizes the proposal will be controversial, but is willing to take the heat.
"Every time I go to parties, people tell me, 'Why don't you bring back the traffic cam? The speeding and reckless driving is getting ridiculous,'" Kawamoto said.
The state called for photo enforcement for both speeders and red-light runners in 1997, but when the law was applied in 2000, public protests forced the Legislature to repeal the program.
Kawamoto added, however, that he is leery of running into strong public opposition again.
"I am just trying to do my job, but I don't want to keep throwing this in and being chastised for it," Kawamoto said.
Another bill that will be controversial would legalize and allow the state to tax the sale of marijuana.
The bill was introduced by Sen. Les Ihara (D, Kapahulu-Palolo), who said he did not approve of the idea, but a constituent asked him to introduce it.
"I don't think it is appropriate and I do not support it, but it is my policy to introduce bills by request because citizens have no other way to get their ideas to the table," Ihara said.
The bill would allow the state to levy a tax of 5 percent on the sale of marijuana.
Ihara explained that the constituent, "someone from Palolo Valley," argued that when the nation repealed Prohibition laws against consuming alcohol, the states were able to tax it and benefit from the new money.
Another bill introduced by Ihara on behalf of a constituent would ban the importation of elephants to Hawaii for circuses, carnivals or exhibitions.
Ihara said he has not studied the issue and did not have an opinion on it, but the Hawaiian Humane Society is in favor of it.
"Wild animals should not be used in entertainment such as circus shows and exhibits," said Pamela Burns, president of the Hawaiian Humane Society. "We have worked actively to prevent any practice that might produce pain, stress, injury or death of an animal."
She noted that circus elephant Tyke went on a rampage in Honolulu in August 1994, killing handler Allen Campbell before being shot to death by police.
