Item 5: Action: Discussion and Approval of Non-Unanimous IGR Positions

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Requires owner of golf cart or substantially similar vehicle operated within jurisdiction of road authority to display decal with identifying number issued by road authority. Requires golf carts or substantially similar vehicles to display slow-moving vehicle emblems when operated on any highway. Expands offense of operation of low-speed vehicle in prohibited area to include any person who operates golf cart or substantially similar vehicle on any highway with designated speed of greater than 25 miles per hour. Sponsored by: Representative GALIZIO; Representative STIEGLER (at the request of Chuck Fessler, King City Police Chief) URL:http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb2400.dir/hb2492.intro.pdf ContactRespondentDept Updated Priority Policy Poli Numb Recommendation E.Cushman D. Schulz EPD-ADM 2/16/2009 Neutral Comments: This bill would expand the statutory authority for a road authority to permit golf carts "or substantially similar vehicles" on roadways. It would not require this, but would allow the road authority of a jurisdiction to do so, and to establish restrictions around the operation of such vehicles, if it felt that such action was beneficial for the local jurisdiction involved. The bill was introduced at the request of the Police Chief of King City. Although we do not believe that such a practice would be consistent with traffic safety here, we do not oppose allowing other jurisdictions to do so on a case-by-case basis, since this is consistent with the philosophy of allowing local jurisdictions to make decisions on actions which affect them. We would oppose the bill if it were amended to make this provision mandatory for all jurisdictions. ContactRespondentDept Updated Priority Policy Poli Numb Recommendation Tom Larsen Tom Larsen PWM 1/30/2009 Neutral Comments: The bill allows cities to adopt ordinances that would permit golf carts and similar vehicles to operate on roads posted at 25 MPH and lower. We have serious safety concerns about operating cars and golf carts together on the same road. The ordinance allowed under this rule will need to establish standards for regulating and identifying the other similar vehicles. Under the provisions of this bill golf carts and similar vehicles will not be able to cross the Willamette River or use much of the arterial and collector street system. The ordinace process will be a very complicated. While I strongly recommend that we not enact the ordinance permitted by this law, I am not opposed to other cities in different circumstances passing ordinances that work for them. HB 2499 Relating Clause: Relating to motorcycle helmets. Title: Requires only persons under 21 years of age to wear motorcycle helmets. Sponsored by: Representatives BAILEY, FREEMAN; Representative MATTHEWS URL:http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb2400.dir/hb2499.intro.pdf ContactRespondentDept Updated Priority Policy Poli Numb Recommendation E. Cushman D. Schulz EPD-ADM 2/12/2009 Pri 2 Yes V. C7 Oppose Comments: We strongly oppose this bill, which would require that only persons under 21 years of age wear helmets while operating motorcycles. Statistics from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and the Oregon Department of Transportation have shown that simply wearing a protective helmet while operating a motorcycle will substantially increase a person's chances of surviving a motorcycle crash. The proposed legislation is suggesting that only motorcycle operators under the age of 21 be required to wear helmets; however, this particular demographic (21 & under) does not have the highest percentage of motorcycle crash fatalities. 3