On Friday, June 30, the Oregon House passed with a 47-6 vote Senate-amended House Bill 2597, which expands current laws dealing with mobile devices and distracted driving. Barring a veto from Gov. Kate Brown, the bill is likely to become law.โจโจIf signed into law, HB2597 will redefine a โmobile electronic deviceโ as an electronic device that is not permanently installed in a motor vehicle and โincludes but is not limited to a device capable of text messaging, voice communication, entertainment, navigation, accessing the Internet or producing electronic mail.โ
Currently, a โmobile communication deviceโ is any text messaging device or a wireless, two-way communication device designed to receive and transmit voice or text communication.โจโจโDrivingโ will also be redefined as โoperating a motor vehicle on a highway or premises open to the public, and while temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic control device or other momentary delays.โ The only exceptions will be vehicles that are safely stationary and pulled over on the side of the road, in a designated parking space or required to park on the roadway for utility maintenance work.โจโจHB2597 will make it illegal for anyone to drive and use a mobile electronic device, which includes simple tasks such as changing a song on a music app or entering parameters on a navigation app. As defined above, this includes while stopped at a red light.โจโจHowever, the law will not apply to commercial motor vehicle drivers as long as the mobile device is being used within the scope of the personโs employment. This includes use of a CB radio while transporting forest products or assisting in logging operations.โจโจViolations will also increase from a Class C traffic violation ($160) to a Class B violation ($260) for first offenders. Violations that result in a crash will be bumped up to a Class A violation, a presumptive fine of $435. Penalties increase for additional violations within a 10-year period.
