OOIDA Call to Action - Oregon Members
January 19, 2005

Heads up, Oregon truckers! Legislation in the state Senate needs your support.

In an effort against lucrative speed traps, Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, has introduced a bill that would ban ticketing agencies from keeping a portion of traffic fines. It is awaiting assignment to a committee.

Currently, the revenue collected from traffic offenses in the state flows into the coffers of the law-enforcement agency's jurisdiction.

Under the bill - SB295 - half of the money collected would be split evenly between the state school fund, where the money would be earmarked for high school driver's education, and police officer training. The remaining half would continue to go to the court where the cases are handled.

With traffic tickets generating $30 million in revenue through Oregon circuit courts alone, the bill could mean a big shift of dollars away from local governments.

The legislation stems from complaints received about the city of Coburg's use of speed-limit enforcement on Interstate 5. 

For years, speed as a source of revenue has been a controversial issue for Coburg, a town of about 1,000 people north of Eugene.

It all started with a Coburg motorcycle officer, stationed outside city limits to "enforce safety." The officer knocked out 1,376 speeding tickets in a six-month period. That's about 230 tickets a month!

After the practice was restricted in 2003 by legislation offered by Prozanski, Coburg annexed a piece of land east of I-5, which broadened its police department's jurisdiction to include the part of the freeway where they were collecting fines. Meanwhile, the lone motorcycle officer morphed into a traffic team of eight full-time officers and several reserves.

According to The Oregonian, the officers stopped thousands more I-5 drivers in 2003 than the much larger Eugene, Springfield and Lane County departments combined, writing $1.4 million in tickets.

Prozanski said his proposal would halt other cities or counties from setting up police teams solely for traffic enforcement.

Prozanski expects a fight from a lot of cities and counties who oppose his effort.

It is important you contact your senator and let them know how important this bill is to you as an Oregon resident. For contact information, visit www.leg.state.or.us/senate/. Click on "Senator Information." You can also call OOIDA's Membership Department at 1-800-444-5791 and they'll look it up for you.