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Police Traffic Enforcement

The goal of the Police Traffic Enforcement Program is to reduce deaths and injuries through support of speed enforcement, traffic safety law enforcement, training and equipment funding. 
 
 

​The goal of the Police Traffic Enforcement Program is to reduce deaths and injuries through support of speed enforcement, traffic safety law enforcement, training and public education.

Speed Enforcement: Overtime enforcement grants to address the issue of speeding drivers.
 
Speed Management: Monitors, analyzes and provides topical expertise regarding Oregon speed laws, legislation and speed issues at the state and local levels. Provides expertise to Oregon law-enforcement and judicial agencies.  
 
Speed Measuring Device Training: Provides training and certification for radar and lidar through the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.
  
Public Information and Education: Provides media information and public outreach regarding the dangers of speeding.
 
Speed Goal: Reduce deaths and injuries that are speed-related on state/interstate highways, county roads and city streets in Oregon.
 
Photo Red Light and Photo Radar: Are funded and supported directly by each city that operates a photo red light and/or photo radar program. Each city is required to provide a process and outcome evaluation to the Legislative Assembly on the use of this technology in Oregon once each biennium.  

New "Speed Test" Public Service Announcement​

 

This brochure has been distributed to assist in the public education effort as it relates to speeding.

Slow Down: It's the Law - Stock #330541

​Verra Mobility Logo - outline map of the US with text that reads 2021's Worst Red-Light Runners

2021's Worst Re​d-Light Runners


Verra Mobility's release of their 2021's Worst Red-Light Runners video highlights the importance of road safety and the value of automated enforcement. The videos in this year's compilation come from Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, and North Carolina, highlighting how dangerous driving decisions and in-vehicle distractions can have a devastating impact on human life.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, more than a quarter of fatal crashes at signalized intersections are the result of red-light running. That same report indicated nearly one-half of the victims were passengers in the vehicles involved in the crash.

Red-light running, unlawful speeding, and illegally passing school buses all pose a dangerous threat to the safety of all who share America's roadways. Now, more than ever, we need to come together to spread the message that these dangers are present too often, imperiling our communities. The first step to achieving change is education and awareness.

Join us in sharing this video with others to remind them to always stop on red! ​


Move Over or Slow Down

Move Over or Slow Down gif image showing a car moving to the next lane to allow more room for a police vehicle to conduct a traffic stop on the shoulder of the road.

Oregon passed its first Move Over law ORS 811.147 in 2010 requiring drivers to move over a land or slow down five miles​ below the speed limit for an emergency vehicle, a roadside assistance vehicle, a tow vehicle or ambulance, when it is displaying warning lights. In 2017, it was changed to include any vehicle stopped displaying hazard lights.

Protect and help the people who protect and help you


Nationally, approximately 24 first responders lose their lives on interstate highway shoulders every year conducting their duties. ODOT has secured funding in 2023 for education and outreach on the Oregon Move Over Law, ORS 811.147. According to AAA, an estimated 12% of interstate traffic fatalities are the result of shoulder crashes or 600 deaths a year.

From 2016-2020 Oregon experienced 207 crashes involving vehicles parked off-road. These crashes resulted in 7 fatalities, 13 serious injuries, and 164 moderate and minor injuries. One hundred crashes were property damage only. Fifty (47%) of those crashes involved heavy/medium trucks. 

Here in Oregon, from 2015 to 2020, there were 2,774 crashes that occurred in work zones, 25 of which were fatal and 114 resulted in serious injuries. From 2015 to 2021, ODOT vehicles were hit 50 times by the traveling public.

​It's the Law


(1) ORS 811.147 – Failure to maintain a safe distance from a motor vehicle – A person operating a motor vehicle commits the offense of failure to maintain a safe distance from a motor vehicle if the person approaches a motor vehicle that is stopped and is displaying required warning lights or hazard lights, or a person is indicating distress by using emergency flares of posting emergency signs, and the person operating the motor vehicle:
     (a)  On a highway having two or more lanes for traffic in a single direction, fails to: 
          (A) Make a lane change to a lane not adjacent to that of the stopped motor vehicle
          (B) Reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a speed that is at least five mile per hour under the speed limit established in ORS 811.111 (Violating a speed limit) or a designated speed posted under ORS 810.180 (Designation of maximum speeds). 
     (b) On a two directional, two-lane highway, fails to reduce to speed of the motor vehicle to a speed that is at least five miles per hour under the speed limit established in in ORS 811.111 (Violating a speed limit) or a designated speed posted under ORS 810.180 (Designation of maximum speeds).
(2) A person is not in violation of the offense described I this section if the stopped motor vehicle is in a designated parking area. 
(3) The offense described in this section, failure to maintain a safe distance from a motor vehicle is a Class B traffic violation.  [2003 c.42 §2; 2009 c.198 §1; 2010 c.30 §17; 2017 c.305 

​A billboard that reads, Respect the Zone so Everybody Gets Home with an image of children holding orange work zone flagger signs that have safety messages on them.

There's something all of us can do to help keep people safe and free-up congestion on Oregon's roads. If you get in a non-injury crash, just MOVE IT. It's that simple - move your vehicle out of the way so other drivers can safely pass. It's also the law (ORS 811.717).
 
 

Contact

Kristin Twenge
Program Manager
503-583-5439

DMV - Transportation Safety Office
ODOT-TLC Building, MS 3
4040 Fairview Industrial Drive SE
Salem, OR 97302-1142