Advocates push statewide towing standards and public advocate on working group

At the March 17 hearing the committee considered HB2375, which would create a Department of Transportation working group to examine towing practices from public parking facilities and recommend uniform statewide standards.

Kate Thompson, director of surfparking.org, testified at length in support and asked that the bill be amended to include a public advocate on the working group. Thompson told the committee that parking enforcement and private concessions have created a “patchwork” of rules, signage and payment systems that confuse the public. She said, "9,000 people were towed from the Ala Wai Boat Harbor in the last 4 years, and only 34 parking tickets were given," urging stronger statewide oversight.

Representatives from the Office of Consumer Protection and other stakeholders said they stood on written testimony and would be available for questions. Committee members signaled support for adding disability- and public-advocate representation on the working group and recommended chair amendments that would add an executive director or designee from the Disability and Communication Access Board as a member.

The committee adopted a recommendation to pass HB2375 with amendments and to seek public-membership representation for statewide balance. Committee staff will prepare amendment language and a committee report describing the recommended composition of the working group.