Labor Day Law Enforcement Stats Douglas Co., Sept. 26

Over the Labor Day weekend, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as well as other State Law Enforcement agencies across the state. During this time period, Deputies worked special overtime, federally funded, and administered by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Deputies focused on Child seats/Fitting station referrals, texting and speed, and impaired driving. During this event, 33 hours were spend on DUII enforcement, resulting in 2 DUII’s, 1 Driving while suspended, 5 other citations, 33 warnings, and 3 arrests. There was also 25 hours spent on traffic safety enforcement (seat belts, speed, texting, distracted driving, etc). This resulted in 15 seat belt violations, 9 child restraint violations, 5 distracted violations, 28 speeding violations, 26 other type of violations, and 2 driving while suspended violations. A reminder to the public of Oregon House Bill 2597, which will go into effect October 1, 2017. Oregon House Bill 2597 Distracted Driving Fact Sheet:  1. The purpose of the law Focus on driving and put away the distractions. 2. Important dates: * October 1, 2017: is when the law goes into effect. * January 1, 2018: is when the court has the option to waive the fine for first-time offenders who attend a Distracted Driving Avoidance course. 3. Basic Requirement It is illegal to drive while holding or using an electronic device (e.g. cell phone, tablet, GPS, laptop). 4. Exceptions (some are “affirmative defenses”, which means you may need to prove to the court). This new law does not apply to the following: * When using hands-free or built-in devices, if 18 years of age or older. * Use of a single touch or swipe to activate or deactivate the device or a function. * While providing or summoning medical help and no one else is available to make the call. * When parked safely, i.e., stopped at the side of the road or in a designated parking spot. o It is NOT legal to use the device when stopped at a stop light, stop sign, in traffic, etc. * Truck or bus drivers following the federal rules for CDL holders. * Using a two-way radio: CB users, school bus drivers, utility truck drivers in the scope of employment. * Ambulance or emergency vehicle operators in the scope of employment. * Police, fire, EMS providers in the scope of employment, (can include when in a personal vehicle if, for example, when responding to an emergency call). * HAM radio operators, age 18 years or older. 5. Fines: * First offense, not contributing to a crash: Class B violation. o Presumptive fine $260 (The amount on the ticket; if you don’t simply pay, it could go up or down). Minimum fine is $130; maximum fine is $1,000. * Second offense, or first offense, if it contributed to a crash: Class A violation. Presumptive Fine $435. Minimum fine is $220; maximum is $2,500. * Third offense in ten years: Class B misdemeanor. o Minimum fine $2,000. Could be 6 months in jail. 6. Course for First Time Offenders For a first offense that does not contribute to a crash, the court may suspend the fine* if the driver completes an approved distracted driving avoidance course, and shows proof to the court, within four months. * Only the fine is suspended — the violation will still be recorded on the offender’s driving record.