Senate passes bill imposing mandatory jail, license suspension and possible vehicle forfeiture for repeat excessive speeders

HONOLULU — The Hawaii State Senate passed Senate Bill 97, conference draft 2, aimed at tougher penalties for repeat excessive speeders, after floor debate that split members over vehicle forfeiture and sentencing discretion.

Senator Elefante urged passage, citing national and state traffic-safety data and a personal childhood crash. He said the bill would give prosecutors and judges a stronger tool against repeat offenders by imposing a mandatory minimum 30-day jail sentence, a license suspension of not less than 90 days but not more than six months, required driver training and fines, and a potential vehicle forfeiture when the vehicle is used in the commission of the offense.

Supporters said the measure targets repeat offenders whose speeding…