Aloha everyone. With great frustration I share with you a note received at Quieter O'ahu which is attributed to an exchange with Kendrick Chang of Civil Beat.
"Hi, the bill is no longer alive for the 2017 session. Crossover occurred last week and all bills needed to pass two rounds of committee hearings and the full State House or Senate chamber for it to remain active. In fact, the bill did not get a hearing from its respective committees at all. However, all bills that are not passed this year is automatically reintroduced next year so this piece can get another look and there may be other bills that are similar in content that could still be alive this year."
So yet again we see noise legislation completely ignored by our legislators. Each person who signed the petition supporting HB225 should be outraged. We are. I can only suggest that you each show your displeasure by emailing Representative Hashem who clearly was behind this bill in name only, but certainly not in action. This is so very reminiscent of what happened in 2011 when Representative Marcus Oshiro sponsored HB1178 to limit the size of aftermarket stereo speakers. When confronted by vendors of this unnecessarily loud and disruptive product, Rep Oshiro caved - yes, caved. You can read the comments from the vendors at the following link, where they proudly discuss "killing the bill" that would have made O'ahu and Hawai'i a quieter place to live. http://www.ceoutlook.com/2011/02/09/hawaii-car-audio-bill-killed/
You may contact Representative Hashem with your thoughts at address below, and link to email and contact information for YOUR legislator at following links: For Representatives - http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/members/legislators.aspx?chamber=H - For Senators - http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/members/legislators.aspx?chamber=S
Mark J. Hashem
State House of Representatives - District 18
Hawaii State Capitol
415 S. Beretania St. - Rm. # 424
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: 808-586-6510 Fax: 808-586-6511
Email: rephashem@capitol.hawaii.gov