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Murashige, Laura
From: whoa[whao@hawaii.rr.com] 2009 APR 17 Af9 11 9G3
Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 10:07 AM
To: council testimony
Cc: Gunner Mench; Gunner Mench; Secretary SKTSC; Pete Hoffmann; J Yoshimoto; E Naeole; D
Yagong; D Ikeda; B Ford; Guy Enriques; Kelly Greenwell; Dennis Onishi
Subject: Bill 66 Testimony
Attachments: testimonycellphones1.pdf
The attached testimony is for the April 21, 2009 PSPRC meeting.
Mike Price - Chair SKTSC
Comm. No. ot~0 oZ . 7
Ref. To; rrweated ~L
Ref. Date AMR 21 20
4/17/2009
South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee
P.O. Box 383375
Waikoloa, HI 96738
June 2, 2008
RE: TESTIMONY at the April 21, 2009 Hawaii County Council Committee for
Public Safety and Parks and Recreation Meeting
Dear Committee;
I am Michael Price and reside at 68-1794 Auhili Loop in Waikoloa Village, HI
96738. 1 am representing South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee. South Kohala
Traffic Safety Committee supports Bill No. 66 "Use of mobile electronic devices
while operating a vehicle".
This Bill will save lives and reduce the number traffic accidents in the County.
January 12, 2009 the National Safety Council President and CEO Janet
Froetscher called for a nationwide ban on cell phone use while driving. Ms.
Froetscher stated "Studies show that driving while talking on a cell phone is
extremely dangerous and puts drivers at a 4 times greater risk of a crash"
referring to a 1997 New England Journal of Medicine examination of hospital
records. Bill 66 prohibits hand held devices, reducing the crash risk.
Opponents of Bill 66 state the ordinance will be difficult to enforce because a
police officer must observe the use of the device. Currently we have laws that
prohibit transporting a loaded firearm in a vehicle. Child restraint, seat belt and
DUI laws require observation of the offense by police. All these laws protect the
public from injury. Schools prohibit use of electronic devices in the classroom
because they distract from learning tasks: When the public does not use
common sense and responsibly use electronic devices, then government needs
to enact laws that educate by consequential action and fines. Bill 66 prohibits an
unsafe act and protects the general public. Thank you for the opportunity to
comment in support of Bill 66. Your individual and combined support for this Bill
is requested and appreciated.
Sinnccere~ly
Mike Price-Chair South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee