Obedience to and Effect of Traffic Laws

HRS div. 1, tit. 17, ch. 291C, pt. III

in effect

HRS §291C-21 Provisions of parts III to XIV refer to vehicles upon the highways; exceptions

291C-21. Provisions of parts III to XIV refer to vehicles upon the highways; exceptions The provisions of parts III to XIV relating to the operation of vehicles refer exclusively to the operation of vehicles upon highways except, where a different place is specifically referred to in a given section. [L 1971, c 150, pt of §1]

HRS §291C-23 Obedience to police officers

291C-23. Obedience to police officers It shall be a petty misdemeanor for any person to wilfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of any police officer invested by law with authority to direct, control, or regulate traffic. L 1971, c 150, pt of §1; am L 1978, c 222, §9

HRS §291C-24 Persons riding animals or driving animal-drawn vehicles

291C-24. Persons riding animals or driving animal-drawn vehicles Every person riding an animal or driving any animal-drawn vehicle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except those provisions of this chapter which by their very nature can have no application. [L 1971, c 150, pt of §1]

HRS §291C-25 Persons working on highways; exceptions

291C-25. Persons working on highways; exceptions Unless specifically made applicable, the provisions of this chapter except those contained in part XI shall not apply to persons, teams, motor vehicles, and other equipment while actually engaged in work upon the surface of a highway but shall apply to such persons and vehicles when traveling to or from such work. [L 1971, c 150, pt of §1]

HRS §291C-26 Authorized emergency vehicles

291C-26. Authorized emergency vehicles (a) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call or when in the pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law or when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm and vehicles used by police officers while in the performance of a police function, may exercise the privileges set forth in this section, but subject to the conditions herein stated. (b) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle may: (1) Park or stand irrespective of the provisions of this chapter; (2) Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation; (3) Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as the driver does not endanger life or property; (4) Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions; (5) Drive on the shoulder and median of roadways; and (6) Drive in controlled-access roadways, highways, and facilities. (c) The exemptions granted in subsection (b) to an authorized emergency vehicle shall apply only when the vehicle is making use of authorized audible and visual signals, except as otherwise provided by county ordinance. This subsection shall not apply to police vehicles. (d) The foregoing provisions shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons, nor shall those provisions protect the driver from the consequences of the driver's reckless disregard for the safety of others. [L 1971, c 150, pt of §1; gen ch 1985; am L 2002, c 93, §1; am L 2003, c 112, §2]

HRS §291C-27 Emergency vehicle stopped for emergencies; duty of approaching vehicle

291C-27. Emergency vehicle stopped for emergencies; duty of approaching vehicle (a) A driver of a vehicle that is approaching an emergency vehicle that is stopped for an emergency, investigation of a possible traffic violation, rendering assistance to a police officer, or other official duties, as indicated by the flashing emergency lights of the stopped emergency vehicle, shall: (1) Slow down to a reasonable and prudent speed that is safe under the circumstances of an emergency road situation ahead. Reasonableness and prudence shall take into account weather conditions, road conditions, and vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the immediate area. If necessary, the driver shall come to a complete stop before making a lane change under paragraph (2); and (2) Make a lane change into the adjacent lane if necessary and if it is safe to do so, or if possible, to two lanes over which leaves one lane between the driver and the emergency vehicle. (b) As used in this section, "emergency vehicle" means a police or fire department vehicle, ocean safety vehicle, emergency medical services vehicle, freeway service patrol vehicle, sheriff division vehicle, Hawaii emergency management agency vehicle, county emergency management vehicle, civil defense vehicle, department of transportation harbors division vehicle, department of land and natural resources division of conservation and resources enforcement vehicle, or a tow truck. (c) Violation of subsection (a) shall not be subject to section 287-20, relating to furnishing proof of financial responsibility. A violation of subsection (a) shall constitute a violation if no death or injury results from the violation. If a death or injury occurs and is attributable to the driver of the vehicle for a violation of subsection (a), then the driver shall instead be charged under section 707-702.5 for negligent homicide in the first degree; section 707-703 for negligent homicide in the second degree; section 707-704 for negligent homicide in the third degree; section 707-705 for negligent injury in the first degree; or section 707-706 for negligent injury in the second degree, as applicable. [L 2012, c 318, §2; am L 2015, c 192, §2]

Source: Hawaii State Legislature (capitol.hawaii.gov), via Internet Archive capturesURL: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol05_Ch0261-0319/HRS0291C/HRS_0291C-.htmFetched: 11/10/2026