Oregon has passed a new bill broadening the definition of “distracted driving” to include more types of cell phone use, allowing for officers to issue more “distracted driving” tickets.
The bill, called House Bill 2597, was passed by the Oregon House on Friday, June 30th, but has not yet been signed into law by Oregon Governor Kate Brown.
According to the new bill, any use of a “mobile communication device” while behind the wheel will be illegal, even when stopped. This means that even something as practical as using your cell phone as a GPS while stopped at a stop light may get you a distracted driving ticket.
The new bill considers a “mobile communication device” to be “an electronic device… not permanently installed in a motor vehicle,” and defines “driving” as “operating a motor vehicle on a highway or premises open to the public,” including “while temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic control device or other momentary delays.”
Vehicles that are safely pulled over or parked in a parking spot will not fall under the law.
Fortunately, though, commercial motor vehicle drivers will be exempt from the law if the “mobile communication device” is being used for their job.
Bill 2597 states that this new extended distracted driving law “does not apply to a person who is employed as a commercial motor vehicle driver, or as a school bus driver, and is using a mobile electronic device within the scope of the person’s employment if the use is permitted under regulations.”
The use of two-way radios is also allowed for commercial drivers, permitting it is being used “within the scope of the person’s employment.”
When HB2597 becomes law, all traffic violations regarding distracted driving will be moved up a classification and their fines will be increased by at least $100.
The state of Oregon considers this bill to be “necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.”
Assuming the Governor does not veto the bill, HB2597 will go into effect on October 1st, 2017.