§271-9  General duties and powers of the
commission.  (a)  The general duties and powers of the public utilities
commission shall be:



(1)  To regulate common carriers by motor vehicle, and
to that end the commission shall establish reasonable requirements with respect
to continuous and adequate service, leasing of motor vehicles, uniform system
of accounts, records, and reports, and preservation of records.



(2)  To regulate contract carriers by motor vehicle,
and to that end the commission shall establish reasonable requirements with
respect to leasing of motor vehicles, uniform system of accounts, records, and
reports, and preservation of records.



(3)  To administer, execute, and enforce this chapter,
to make all necessary orders in connection therewith, and to prescribe rules,
regulations, and procedures for the administration.



(4)  For purposes of the administration of this
chapter, to inquire into the management of the business of motor carriers, and
into the management of the business of persons controlling, controlled by, or
under common control with, motor carriers to the extent that the business of
these persons is related to the management of the business of one or more motor
carriers, and the commission shall keep itself informed as to the manner and
method in which the same are conducted, and may obtain from the carriers and
persons such information as the commission deems necessary to carry out the
provisions of this chapter.



(5)  To investigate any person acting in the capacity
of or engaging in the business of a motor carrier within the State, without
having a certificate of public convenience and necessity or other authority
previously obtained under and in compliance with this chapter or the rules
promulgated thereunder.



(b)  The commission may from time to time
establish such just and reasonable classifications of groups of carriers
included in the term "common carrier by motor vehicle" or
"contract carrier by motor vehicle", as the special nature of the
services performed by the carriers shall require, and such just and reasonable
rules, regulations, and requirements, consistent with this chapter, to be
observed by the carriers so classified or grouped, as the commission deems
necessary or desirable in the public interest.



(c)  Upon complaint in writing to the
commission by any person or body politic, or upon its own initiative without
complaint, the commission may investigate whether any motor carrier has failed
to comply with any provision of this chapter, or with any regulation,
requirements, or order established or issued pursuant thereto.  If the
commission, after notice and hearing as prescribed in section 271-31, finds
upon any investigation that the motor carrier has failed to comply with any
provision, regulation, requirements, or order, the commission shall issue an
appropriate order to compel the carrier to comply therewith.  Whenever the
commission is of the opinion that any complaint does not state reasonable
grounds for investigation and action on its part, it may dismiss the complaint.
[L 1961, c 121, pt of §2; am L 1962, c 12, §5; am L 1963, c 137, §1 and c 193,
§34; Supp, §106C-7; HRS §271-9; am L Sp 1977 1st, c 20, §5; am L 1991, c 57,
§12]