§249-13  Determination of rate.  (a) 
The council shall determine the rate and the minimum tax at which all vehicles
and motor vehicles in each respective county shall be taxed as provided by
section 249-2.  In making the determination, the rate and minimum tax on trucks
or noncommercial motor vehicles shall be in accordance with subsection (b). 
The rate and minimum tax shall be established by ordinance, provided that prior
to final action thereon a public hearing shall be held on the proposed rate. 
Public notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given at least ten
days prior to the hearing in the county.  After the public hearing the council
may fix the rate and the minimum tax at any amount deemed necessary, but the
rate and the minimum shall not be higher than that originally proposed when the
notice of public hearing was given.  Any rate and minimum tax so established
shall be effective as of January 1 of the year following the date of enactment
of the ordinance.



(b)  The rate and minimum tax for a truck or
noncommercial motor vehicle shall be the same as provided for a passenger
vehicle if:



(1)  The truck or noncommercial motor vehicle has a
net weight of six thousand five hundred pounds or less; and



(2)  The owner submits proof to the director of
finance that the truck or noncommercial motor vehicle is not being operated for
compensation or commercial purposes.



(c)  Any person who submits proof under
subsection (b) to the director of finance knowing that it is false shall be
guilty of a petty misdemeanor. [L 1966, c 49, §4; HRS §249-13; am L 1978, c 69,
§1; am L 1998, c 2, §72]