Chapter 810 Oregon Laws 2007

 

AN ACT

 

SB 566

 

Relating to transportation; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 811.590.

          Whereas a strong transportation system is necessary for the economic vitality of this state; and

          Whereas this state and its political subdivisions do not have adequate resources to meet the preservation, maintenance and modernization needs of the transportation system; and

          Whereas congestion in our transportation system has been demonstrated to have a significant negative financial impact on the state’s citizens and businesses; and

          Whereas population growth predictions indicate significantly greater demands on our transportation system; now, therefore,

 

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

 

          SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Joint Interim Committee on Transportation, consisting of 10 members appointed as follows:

          (a) The President of the Senate shall appoint five members from among members of the Senate.

          (b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint five members from among members of the House of Representatives.

          (2) The interim committee shall:

          (a) Utilize the resources of the Road User Fee Task Force;

          (b) Consult key stakeholders and others as the interim committee finds necessary to investigate, analyze and evaluate funding options to meet the transportation needs of local and regional communities;

          (c) Analyze current statutes available to political subdivisions to address transportation needs and explore modification or expansion of such statutes; and

          (d) Evaluate the creation of regional transportation utility districts or other regional entities designed to address local and regional transportation needs.

          (3) A majority of the members of the interim committee constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

          (4) Official action by the interim committee requires the approval of a majority of the members of the interim committee.

          (5) The interim committee shall elect one of its members to serve as chairperson.

          (6) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing authority shall make an appointment to become immediately effective.

          (7) The interim committee shall meet at times and places specified by the call of the chairperson or of a majority of the members of the interim committee.

          (8) The interim committee may adopt rules necessary for the operation of the interim committee.

          (9) The interim committee shall report to the Legislative Assembly in the manner provided in ORS 192.245 no later than January 1, 2009.

          (10) The Legislative Administrator may employ persons necessary for the performance of the functions of the interim committee. The Legislative Administrator shall fix the duties and amounts of compensation of these employees. The interim committee shall use the services of permanent legislative staff to the greatest extent practicable.

          (11) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS 174.111, are directed to assist the interim committee in the performance of its duties and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to confidentiality, to furnish such information and advice as the members of the interim committee consider necessary to perform their duties.

 

          SECTION 2. (1) The Oregon Transportation Commission shall conduct a study and evaluation of the following:

          (a) Real property owned by the Department of Transportation. The purpose of the study is to determine how to maximize the return on the investments in these properties to enhance the resources in the State Highway Fund.

          (b) Oregon’s highway system, with input from highway users, local governments and the Federal Highway Administration. The purpose of the study is to identify specific highway projects required to reduce traffic congestion, improve freight mobility and enhance safety.

          (c) Projects of statewide significance that are capable of beginning construction during the next two biennia.

          (2) The commission shall report its findings to the Joint Interim Committee on Transportation on or before July 1, 2008.

 

          SECTION 3. Sections 1 and 2 of this 2007 Act are repealed on the date of the convening of the next regular biennial legislative session.

 

          SECTION 4. Section 5 of this 2007 Act is added to and made a part of the Oregon Vehicle Code.

 

          SECTION 5. (1) The driver of a vehicle commits the offense of failure to remove a vehicle from the highway if, after an accident:

          (a) The driver has not suffered any apparent personal injury;

          (b) The vehicle is operable and does not require towing;

          (c) It is safe to drive the vehicle to a designated parking area along the highway or shoulder of the highway; and

          (d) The driver does not move the vehicle to a designated parking area along the highway or shoulder of the highway.

          (2) The offense described in this section, failure to remove a vehicle from the highway, is a Class C traffic violation.

 

          SECTION 5a. If House Bill 2936 becomes law, sections 4 and 5 of this 2007 Act are repealed.

 

          SECTION 6. ORS 811.590 is amended to read:

          811.590. (1) A person commits the offense of unlawful parking in a winter recreation parking area if the person parks a vehicle in a location designated as a winter recreation parking area under ORS 810.170 at any time from [November 15] November 1 of any year to April 30 of the next year and the vehicle is not displaying a winter recreation parking permit issued under ORS 811.595.

          (2) Unless the police officer issuing the citation witnesses the parking of the vehicle, a rebuttable presumption exists that a vehicle parked in violation of this section was parked by the registered owner of the vehicle. If the parking of the vehicle is witnessed by the police officer, the operator of the vehicle is in violation of this section.

          (3) In addition to those vehicles displaying a winter recreation parking permit, the following vehicles are not subject to the prohibition or penalty under this section:

          (a) A vehicle owned and operated by the United States, another state or a political subdivision thereof.

          (b) A vehicle owned and operated by this state or by any city, district or political subdivision thereof.

          (c) A vehicle owned by a resident of another state if the vehicle displays a winter area parking permit issued in accordance with the laws of the state in which the owner of the vehicle resides and that is similar to the winter recreation parking permit issued under ORS 811.595. The exemption under this paragraph is only granted to the extent that a similar exemption or privilege is granted under the laws of the other state for vehicles displaying a winter recreation parking permit issued under ORS 811.595.

          (4) The offense described in this section, unlawful parking in a winter recreation parking area, is punishable by a fine of $30.

 

Approved by the Governor July 17, 2007

 

Filed in the office of Secretary of State July 19, 2007

 

Effective date January 1, 2008

__________