State of Hawaii
03/03/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 03/04/2026 16:35
NEWS RELEASE – DEPT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FIRST IN STATE TO SECURE CONVICTION UNDER NEW HABITUAL UNLICENSED DRIVER LAW
STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA
DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
KA ʻOIHANA O KA LOIO KUHINA
ANNE LOPEZ
ATTORNEY GENERAL
DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FIRST IN STATE TO SECURE CONVICTION UNDER NEW HABITUAL UNLICENSED DRIVER LAW
News Release 2026-11
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2026
HONOLULU - The Department of the Attorney General is the first prosecuting authority in the state of Hawaiʻi to bring charges under the enhanced penalty provisions of Act 212, a law targeting habitual offenders who repeatedly drive without a valid license.
The charges resulted in the prosecution and conviction of Michael Johnson in State v. Michael Johnson, Case No. 1CPC-24-0001429.
Act 212 of the 32nd Legislature of the state of Hawaiʻi was signed into law by Governor Green on July 5, 2024. The law created enhanced penalties for individuals who habitually drive without a license and was enacted in response to increasing traffic fatalities across the state, including the tragic death of Sara Yara.
"The Department of the Attorney General remains committed to conscientious prosecution and brought these charges in light of Mr. Johnson's 17 prior convictions for Driving Without a License within the last five years," said Attorney General Anne Lopez. "Habitual unlicensed drivers pose a serious risk to public safety and Act 212 provides important accountability measures to address that conduct."
This conviction was made possible by the dedicated work of members of the Department of Law Enforcement who investigated the matter and Sheriffs who made the initial traffic stop.
The case was prosecuted by the Department of the Attorney General's Criminal Justice Division. Both the Department of the Attorney General and the Department of Law Enforcement remain committed to promoting safety for drivers and pedestrians of the state of Hawaiʻi.
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