HI SB221

Establishes a photo red light imaging detector systems program allowing counties (Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, and Honolulu) to implement automated traffic enforcement cameras at intersections to detect vehicles running red lights and issue citations by mail to registered owners.

Requires counties to pay vendors a fixed lump sum regardless of citation volume, preventing vendor incentives to maximize violations rather than improve safety, addressing failures of prior speed enforcement programs.

Creates a red light running committee to review the program and recommend amendments before the 2018 legislative session, with participation from courts, public defenders, police, prosecutors, and county transportation officials.

Mandates that all fines collected from photo red light violations be deposited into a special fund and expended in the county where the violation occurred exclusively for establishment, operation, management, and maintenance of the photo red light system.

Authorizes municipalities to issue summons or citations by certified mail within 72 hours of violations, with clear photographic images of the driver required, and allows registered owners to rebut citations through written statements, testimony, or evidence that they were not the operator.