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House to decide if state Rep. Sharon Har must detail terms of 2-year license revocation

Hawaii State Legislature

A special House committee recommended state Rep. Sharon Har write letters to the House and its leadership about the two-year revocation of her driver’s license.

The committee was investigating Har’s conduct when she was arrested and accused of driving under the influence last year while going the wrong way on Beretania Street. Har refused to take a field sobriety test, or a breath or blood alcohol test.

Honolulu police officers on the scene had testified they smelled a strong alcohol odor from Har, and she had slurred speech.

In January, per diem Judge Steven L. Hartley acquitted Har of driving under the influence.

There was a question of whether she asked responding police officers if they knew who she was, which would violate House rules of conduct. Several representatives raised concerns about Har’s conduct that night.

The committee decided Har did not abuse her position during the arrest.

"I really reviewed, like many of you, the body cam videos to see whether or not there was a violation of 62.2, which was the statement about 'Do you know who I am?' And there was nothing, nothing in any of the videos communicating that statement being made or showing that that statement was made, nor was it in the police reports that were submitted," said Rep. Della Au Bellati, the committee chair.

"So I find that very troubling in this world where things get blown out of proportion, and things often get tried in the media, and that's why we have this process and why we also had — the community can trust the criminal process that also took place," she said.

The recommendations will be considered and voted on by the entire House next week.

Har represents Kapolei and Makakilo. She was first elected to the state House in 2006. She is also an attorney specializing in real estate, land use and construction litigation.

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