Update 4/28/09

The House passed HB 2377, the cell phone ban, today. The bill will now move to the Senate. The House also amended the bill to make it a primary traffic violation, meaning drivers could be cited for using the phone without being cited for any other infraction. The bill still allows exceptions for hands-free devices, and for drivers using their cell phones for work.

Original Post 4/27/09

At the Oregon Bike Summit last week, participants met with virtually every legislator at the Capitol to discuss the important elements for this year's bicycling agenda–vehicular homicide, drivers education, and funding for non-motorized transportation corridors.

Tim Blumenthal, Scott Bricker, Jay Graves and Steve Durrant talk at the Capitol.

Doug Parrow, head of the BTA Legislative Committee, has the latest news from Salem:

HB 2377 – Cell Phones: The bill sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Tomei to restrict the use of cell phones moved out of the House Transportation Committee with a "do pass" recommendation. As amended by the committee, the bill would provide a number of exemptions including for many drivers who operate vehicles within the scope of their employment. The bill is scheduled for a vote in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, April 28.

The BTA has not taken a formal position on the bill, but is supportive of measures that remove the causes of driver distraction that demonstrably affect the safety of road users. A motorist's use of a cell phone is a likely cause of at least one recent crash in which a cyclist was seriously injured. While the BTA did not take a formal position in HB 2377, we did include in HB 3399 the use of a cell phone as one of serveral types of impairment that would constitute Vehicular Homicide if the cell phone user caused a fatal crash.

Legislative Agenda Update:

HB 3399 – Vehicular Homicide: Died in committee today. House Judiciary Committee Chair Jeff Barker indicated that fiscal impact and other complications could not be resolved in time to pass this session. He thanked Mary O'Donnell and the BTA for bringing the proposal forward and indicated that he intends to work with Rep. Tobias Read, district attorneys, and others to pursue a stronger vehicular homicide bill next session.

HB 3252 – Drivers Education: There was support among legislators for the BTA's proposal to require retesting at license renewal, but again, fiscal impact was a big obstacle. (DMV estimated that implementation of a testing program would require 14 new positions and major changes in their computer system.) The BTA is exploring ways to advance the proposal next legislative session.

HB 2001 – Funding: The House Transportation Committee is wading through a series of amendments that will form the bill to replace the Jobs and Transportation Act (HB 2023). The Transportation Committee is focusing on transportation planning policy and is scheduled to complete work on the bill on Tuesday, April 28. From there, the bill will go to the House Revenue Committee, where the BTA expects to make the case for establishing a funding source for non-motorized transportation.

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