Policy committee forwards Bill 59 to counsel after debate on street solicitation, safety and free-speech concerns

The Hawaii County Council Policy Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit voted to forward Bill 59 to county counsel with a favorable recommendation after members discussed pedestrian safety, enforcement discretion and possible First Amendment implications.

Bill 59 would amend Chapter 24, Article 9 of the Hawaii County Code to prohibit a person from entering or remaining in a street to receive, solicit, deliver or offer goods or services with occupants of a vehicle, unless the vehicle is legally parked. The measure as introduced includes fines and community‑service penalties: a first violation would carry a fine of not less than $250 and not more than $1,000 or community service of 50–200 hours (or both); a repeat violation within a year would raise the minimum fine to $500 and require 100–200 hours of community service (or both).

Proponents said the change targets safety risks created when people are in traffic lanes, medians or other road areas. "Doing business within a street is not safe for either pedestrians or traffic," said Major Jeremy Evangelista, Administrative Services…