Item A: Adoption of 2007 Legislative Policies

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the person voluntarily agrees to be tested and to release the results of the test. This issue is important because any delay or refusal on the part of the person contacted to allow such testing and/or the release of the results can put the public employee at risk of death or sustaining a serious, debilitating illness. 13. IN-CAR VIDEO CAMERAS The City supports a revision to current State law (ORS 165.540) so that police officers using in- car video camera systems are exempted from the requirement to inform people being contacted by police that they are being recorded. The current law has not kept pace with technology, and in-car video systems fall under it only because of the audio they record. Arguably, under the way the current law is written, a police officer who forgets to advise a person could be considered to have committed a Class A Misdemeanor, since no culpable mental state (e.g., intent) is included in the statute. Exempting this increasingly prevalent technology from the requirements of this statute will allow communities to set their own standards regarding when an advisement should be given, and avoid the risk of losing valuable evidence – or, potentially, use of the video footage for any purpose, such as resolving a citizen’s complaint against an officer – if, in a particular circumstance, the advisement is not done. 14. ENHANCED PENALTY FOR THEFT OF, OR INTENTIONAL DAMAGE TO, PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE The City supports legislation which would enhance the seriousness of the offense in cases where an item stolen or intentionally damaged constituted a part of governmental or public utility infrastructure, such as wiring for electrical generation or lighting. The epidemic of theft of copper wire creates not only a serious economic burden on local government, but creates a risk to the public by making ineffective devices which are in place to enhance public safety, such as street and bike path lighting. The City also supports legislation which would aid in investigating and prosecuting those who purchase such stolen items. 15. IDENTIFICATION OF PERSONS STOPPED FOR VIOLATIONS OF LAW The City supports legislation which would require that a person stopped for a violation of law identify himself/herself to a police officer. Current law makes it a crime to give false information (i.e., false name, address, or date of birth) to a police officer but, except for statutes dealing with the operation of motor vehicles (which require that a person present a valid driver’s license), there is no requirement that a person stopped for a violation not involving operation of a motor vehicle identify himself/herself. 16. FLEEING FROM POLICE OFFICERS The City supports legislation which would make it an offense for a person to flee from a police City of Eugene Legislative Policies, 2007 Session With IGR Mtg 10/17 and 10/26 Amendments C:\Documents and Settings\ceexelf\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK10B\LegPol2007Sesxx1.doc Updated on: 11/6/2006 By: Last saved by ceexmfw 52