§708-8106 - Defenses not available. - Hawaii Statutes

     [§708-8106]  Defenses not available.  In any prosecution for violation of this part, the prosecution is not required to establish and it is no defense:

     (1)  That a person other than the defendant who violated this part has not been convicted, apprehended, or identified; or

     (2)  That some of the acts constituting the offense did not occur in this State or were not a crime or element of a crime where they did occur. [L 1986, c 314, pt of §61]

 

COMMENTARY ON §§708-8100 TO 8106

 

  Act 314, Session Laws 1986, incorporated into the Code the credit card offenses previously included under chapter 851.  Apart from this change, credit card offense penalties were made more severe in recognition of the increase in the criminal abuse of credit cards.  Also, Act 314 barred the disclosure of credit cardholder lists, except in limited circumstances, because the procurement from stores and credit bureaus of those lists increases the likelihood of credit card fraud and theft.  Senate Standing Committee Report No. 820-86, Conference Committee Report No. 51-86.

  Act 55, Session Laws 1988, amended §708-8100 by lowering the value of money, goods, and services, required as an element of credit card fraud in the class C felony category, from $500 to $300.  This amendment makes this section uniform with similar statutory crimes.  House Standing Committee Report No. 1173-88.

  Act 230, Session Laws 2006, amended §708-8100(2) to provide that each separate use of a stolen credit card that exceeds $300 can be charged as a separate incident.  House Standing Committee Report No. 665-06.