SB1195 would create a statewide rule prohibiting parking within 20 feet of any crosswalk or intersection, whether or not there are signs or curb markings already in place. The bill is aimed at improving visibility and reducing pedestrian crashes and injuries, especially for children and other vulnerable road users. It includes limited exceptions for emergency vehicles, government vehicles on duty, stalled or broken-down vehicles, vehicles assisting them, and other situations authorized by law.
The bill also sets a civil fine of up to $50 for each violation, with each day treated as a separate offense. All fines collected under the new parking restriction would be directed into the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund, which already supports school-zone safety and related infrastructure. The measure further amends existing law to clarify that signs or curb markings are not required to enforce the 20-foot parking buffer, while still allowing transportation authorities and counties to post signs or markings for other parking restrictions.
In practical terms, SB1195 would add a new section to Chapter 291C of the Hawaii Revised Statutes and revise the Safe Routes to School fund statute to include these parking fines as a dedicated revenue source. It would also modify the signage provision in section 291C-111 to make clear that the crosswalk/intersection parking restriction applies automatically. The act is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.
The overall sentiment reflected in the bill’s findings and voting history is strongly supportive of pedestrian safety and traffic calming. The bill passed its Senate transportation committee unanimously, advanced through Senate Judiciary with one dissenting vote, and later passed conference committees with no opposition recorded in the available votes. That pattern suggests broad agreement on the safety rationale and the use of fine revenue for school-route improvements.
The main point of contention appears to be the scope and automatic nature of the parking restriction, particularly the fact that it applies without posted signs or curb markings. While the bill’s supporters frame that feature as necessary for safety and visibility, it also creates a stricter statewide rule that drivers must know and follow even in the absence of local signage. The bill’s use of parking fines to fund the Safe Routes to School program is another notable policy choice, but the available record does not show significant opposition to that funding mechanism.
Impact
SB1195 would amend Hawaii’s traffic and parking laws by creating a new statewide prohibition on parking within 20 feet of crosswalks and intersections, regardless of signage, and by establishing a $50 maximum fine for violations. It would also revise the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund statute so that parking fines collected under the new rule are deposited into that fund, expanding the fund’s revenue sources beyond existing school-zone speeding assessments and surcharges. In addition, the bill would clarify that transportation officials and counties are not required to post signs or curb markings to enforce the new buffer-zone restriction, while preserving their authority to post signs for other parking limits. The measure would take effect January 1, 2026, and would apply prospectively only.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have enjoyed generally favorable support, with committee votes showing unanimous or near-unanimous approval at each stage and no recorded opposition in conference. The stated purpose of improving pedestrian safety, especially near schools and intersections, aligns with the broader transportation safety priorities described in the bill findings. The available record suggests the measure was viewed as a practical safety enhancement rather than a controversial policy shift.
Contention
The most notable issue is the automatic enforcement of the 20-foot parking ban without requiring signs or curb markings, which could raise concerns about notice to drivers and local enforcement consistency. Another possible point of debate is whether parking fines should be dedicated to the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund rather than the general fund or local traffic-safety accounts. However, the voting record provided shows little visible resistance, indicating that any concerns were limited or resolved through amendments during the legislative process.