Bill > SB1317

This bill modifies Hawaii's law regarding police citations for minor offenses by clarifying the conditions under which a police officer may issue a citation instead of making an arrest and updating the required contents of such citations. The bill specifically revises the circumstances for issuing a citation, such as when an officer believes the person will appear in court, has no outstanding warrants, and the offense is unlikely to require further police intervention. The bill also expands the list of required citation information, including the offender's current address and last four digits of their social security number (if available), and adds a crucial provision stating that omissions or errors in the citation cannot be grounds for dismissing a charge or reversing a conviction, unless those errors actually prejudice the defendant's case. This change provides more flexibility for law enforcement and courts in handling minor infractions, while maintaining the essential purpose of ensuring defendants are properly informed about their legal obligations.

Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1317&year=2026