Hawaii Lawmakers Consider Expanding Traffic Camera Enforcement

Proposed bill would allow cameras to ticket expired vehicle registrations and safety checks

Apr. 5, 2026 at 10:05am

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A bill pending in the Hawaii state Legislature would expand the use of automated traffic cameras to ticket vehicle owners for expired registration and safety inspections. The measure has yet to be approved, but if passed, it would also increase fines for street racing, street takeovers, and excessive speeding, as well as require front license plate brackets on all vehicles sold in the state.

Why it matters

The proposed legislation aims to improve road safety and crack down on uninsured drivers by using traffic cameras to identify vehicles with lapsed registration or safety checks. Supporters argue this could help reduce hit-and-run incidents, but some have raised concerns about government overreach and privacy violations.

The details

The bill, currently in the Senate after passing second reading, would authorize counties to use automatic license plate readers to identify vehicles without current safety inspection or registration stickers, and mail tickets to the registered owners. It would also expand the use of automated speed enforcement cameras to any high-risk location on state or county highways, rather than limiting them to intersections with red-light cameras as current law requires.

  • The bill passed second reading in the Hawaii Senate last week and was referred to the Ways and Means and Judiciary committees.
  • If approved, the legislation does not yet have a specific start date for the new traffic camera enforcement measures.

The players

Hawaii Department of Transportation

The state agency that would determine high-risk locations for automated speed enforcement cameras and consult with the Judiciary, though the bill seeks to limit the Judiciary's control over the department's authority.

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What’s next

The bill must still pass through the Ways and Means and Judiciary committees in the Hawaii Senate before potentially moving to a final vote.

The takeaway

This proposed legislation highlights the ongoing debate around the use of traffic cameras for enforcement, balancing public safety concerns with individual privacy rights. If enacted, it could lead to more citations for expired vehicle registrations and safety checks, but also raises questions about government overreach.