Safety corridors; penalty.

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(2)(a) The presumptive fine for a person charged with an offense that is listed in subsection (3)(a) or (b) of this section and that is committed in a safety corridor chosen by the department under subsection (1) of this section shall be the amount established under ORS 153.020.

(b) The minimum fine for a person convicted of a misdemeanor offense that is listed in subsection (3)(c) to (g) of this section and that is committed in a safety corridor is 20 percent of the maximum fine established for the offense.

(c) The minimum fine for a person convicted of a felony offense that is listed in subsection (3)(c) to (g) of this section and that is committed in a safety corridor is two percent of the maximum fine established for the offense.

(3) This section applies to the following offenses if committed in the designated safety corridors:

(a) Class A or Class B traffic violations.

(b) Class C or Class D traffic violations related to exceeding a legal speed.

(c) Reckless driving, as defined in ORS 811.140.

(d) Driving while under the influence of intoxicants, as defined in ORS 813.010.

(e) Failure to perform the duties of a driver involved in a collision, as described in ORS 811.700 or 811.705.

(f) Criminal driving while suspended or revoked, as defined in ORS 811.182.

(g) Fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, as defined in ORS 811.540. [1999 c.1071 §5; 1999 c.1071 §5a; 2001 c.421 §1; 2003 c.100 §3; 2007 c.124 §1; 2011 c.597 §116; 2018 c.22 §11]

Note: Sections 1, 2 and 6, chapter 501, Oregon Laws 2019, provide:

Sec. 1. Section 2 of this 2019 Act is added to and made a part of the Oregon Vehicle Code. [2019 c.501 §1]

Sec. 2. (1)(a) The Department of Transportation shall establish a safety corridor pilot program in this state to evaluate the processes for and effectiveness of allowing counties to designate as safety corridors roads over which the counties have road authority.

(b) The County Safety Corridor Advisory Group established in subsection (3)(a) of this section shall select up to five counties in the state to participate in the pilot program established in paragraph (a) of this subsection.

(c) The county commission for each county selected under paragraph (b) of this subsection may designate one segment of highway that is between 2 and 10 miles long as a safety corridor.

(d) A safety corridor designated under paragraph (c) of this subsection must satisfy the criteria established by the advisory group under subsection (3)(c)(A) of this section.

(e) The department shall adopt rules necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

(2)(a) Each county selected under subsection (1)(b) of this section shall post signs in the safety corridor designated by the county indicating that fines for traffic offenses committed in the safety corridor will be doubled.

(b) The presumptive fine for a person charged with an offense that is listed in paragraph (e)(A) or (B) of this subsection and that is committed in a safety corridor designated by a county under this section shall be the amount established under ORS 153.020.

(c) The minimum fine for a person convicted of a misdemeanor offense that is listed in paragraph (e)(C) to (G) of this subsection and that is committed in a safety corridor designated by a county under this section is 20 percent of the maximum fine established for the offense.

(d) The minimum fine for a person convicted of a felony offense that is listed in paragraph (e)(C) to (G) of this subsection and that is committed in a safety corridor designated by a county under this section is two percent of the maximum fine established for the offense.

(e) This subsection applies to the following offenses if committed in the designated safety corridors:

(A) Class A or Class B traffic violations.

(B) Class C or Class D traffic violations related to exceeding a legal speed.

(C) Reckless driving, as defined in ORS 811.140.

(D) Driving while under the influence of intoxicants, as defined in ORS 813.010.

(E) Failure to perform the duties of a driver involved in a collision, as described in ORS 811.700 or 811.705.

(F) Criminal driving while suspended or revoked, as defined in ORS 811.182.

(G) Fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, as defined in ORS 811.540.

(3)(a) The County Safety Corridor Advisory Group is established.

(b) The Director of Transportation shall appoint the following members to serve on the advisory group:

(A) Two members who are representatives of the Department of Transportation;

(B) Two members who are representatives of counties;

(C) One member who is a firefighter or emergency medical services provider; and

(D) One member who is a representative of a law enforcement agency.

(c) The advisory group shall:

(A) Establish objective criteria for designating a segment of highway as a safety corridor under subsection (1)(c) of this section;

(B) Establish requirements for the counties selected under subsection (1)(b) of this section, including for regular community engagement, heightened enforcement, engineering improvements, infrastructure investments and public outreach; and

(C) Establish content requirements for reports mandated under subsection (4)(a) of this section.

(4)(a) Each county selected under subsection (1)(b) of this section shall, in consultation with the department, prepare two reports on its findings, including any recommendations for legislation, and shall submit the reports to an appropriate committee or interim committee of the Legislative Assembly related to transportation.

(b) The first report must be submitted no later than September 15, 2022. The second report must be submitted no later than September 15, 2024.

(c) Each report must satisfy the content requirements established by the advisory group under subsection (3)(c)(C) of this section. [2019 c.501 §2]

Sec. 6. Section 2 of this 2019 Act is repealed on January 2, 2026. [2019 c.501 §6]


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