New Cell Phone Law

If you live in Oregon…..please be aware of this new cell phone law.

There is big news on the Cell Phone law front – HB 2597 has passed and is waiting for Governor Brown’s signature.  Simply put, you cannot touch your phone while behind the wheel of an automobile.  Once this bill is signed and goes into effect, the first time you are cited you can take a distracted driver course to remove it from your record.  A second citation in ten years has a maximum fine of $2,000.  A third offense is a minimum fine of $2,000 PLUS a possible jail sentence.

Basic facts of the new law are:

There is no holding, no scrolling, no fiddling (other than a quick, one-touch motion to turn something on or off, or to answer or hang up a call) permitted.

• Drivers will not be able to keep their devices on their laps.

• You can no longer use your device for work while driving, unless you’re a police officer, firefighter, EMT, or utility worker.

• The only exception is that anyone is allowed to make emergency calls to 911.

• You must fully pull over and put the car in park to do anything more than quickly one-touch their screen.

• If you are stopped at a red light, or in gridlock, you are still subject to the fine/penalty.

• The new law goes into effect October 1, 2017.