{"id":3024,"date":"2026-07-25T05:04:53","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T05:04:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=3024"},"modified":"2026-07-25T05:04:53","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T05:04:53","slug":"truck-bed-riding-age-raised-to-16-as-hawaii-enacts-new-traffic-safety-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=3024","title":{"rendered":"Truck bed riding age raised to 16 as Hawaii enacts new traffic safety laws"},"content":{"rendered":"
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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Two new Hawaii laws are changing the way residents travel, raising the minimum age for riding in pickup truck beds and establishing clearer regulations for electric bicycles and other electric mobility devices.<\/p>\n

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One law, House Bill 1692, increases the minimum age for riding in the bed of a pickup truck from 12 to 16. The measure includes exemptions for agricultural work, emergencies and certain employment-related situations.<\/p>\n

The same law also reinforces Hawaii\u2019s \u201cmove over law\u201d to cover all disabled vehicles displaying hazard warning lights or other recognized safety signals.<\/p>\n

For many Hawaii families, riding in the back of a pickup truck has long been a common practice.<\/p>\n

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Mililani resident Tiffany James said her family frequently used the truck bed to transport children and their friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe definitely have driven in the truck with our kids,\u201d James said. \u201cWe did it not only for our children, but also our daughters\u2019 friends as well, just to cut down on the trips back and forth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her husband, Dustin James, said he understands the safety concerns behind the new law, even though truck bed riding has long been considered normal in Hawaii.<\/p>\n

\u201cSafety being an issue, then I understand it,\u201d he said. \u201cBut at the same time, it\u2019s just kind of normal here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Others welcomed the change.<\/p>\n

Duane Shiroma, a groundskeeper at Waimanalo Beach, said the law reflects the risks associated with transporting passengers in a truck bed.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI think that\u2019s a good thing. It\u2019s a safety issue,\u201d Shiroma said. \u201cI don\u2019t want to be liable if something happens. Nobody rides in the back of my truck except my weed eater and my lawn mower.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lawmakers also approved legislation regulating electric bicycles and other electric mobility devices by establishing clearer classifications and limiting motor power and speeds. Under the law, the fastest class of electric bicycles is limited to speeds of 28 mph, while riders younger than 18 are now required to wear helmets.<\/p>\n

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The Hawaii Department of Transportation said the changes come as bicycle and e-bike crashes continue to raise safety concerns.<\/p>\n

\u201cBetween 2020 and 2025, there have been 26 bicycle fatalities,\u201d said Shelly Kunishige, spokesperson for the Hawaii Department of Transportation. \u201cStatewide since 2017, we\u2019ve tracked 11 e-bike-related fatalities.\u201d<\/p>\n

State Rep. Darius Kila, chair of the House Transportation Committee, said retailers and buyers should ensure their devices comply with the new law.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they do not come into compliance with the law as written, it\u2019s a minimum fine of $500,\u201d Kila said. \u201cLaw enforcement has the opportunity to seize the non-road-compliant, high-speed electric devices.\u201d<\/p>\n

State transportation officials said they plan to focus on public education before enforcement efforts increase.<\/p>\n

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Two new Hawaii laws are changing the rules for riding in pickup truck beds and using electric bikes, with state officials saying the measures are aimed at improving road safety and reducing serious injuries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3023,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nTruck bed riding age raised to 16 as Hawaii enacts new traffic safety laws - Hawaii Moving Insider<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=3024\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Truck bed riding age raised to 16 as Hawaii enacts new traffic safety laws - 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