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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5: Ordinance Amending Chapter 5 ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Action: An Ordinance Concerning Offenses and State Traffic Laws; Amending Sections 4.115, 4.990 and 5.005 of the Eugene Code, 1971; Declaring an Emergency; and Providing an Immediate Effective Date Meeting Date: February 25, 2008 Agenda Item Number: 5 Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Kristie Hammitt www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5019 ISSUE STATEMENT The purpose of this action is to amend Section 5.005 of the Eugene Code, 1971 (EC) by the re-adoption of the State Traffic Code, and to amend EC Section 4.115 to prohibit a minor from possessing any alcohol while operating a motor vehicle, and to add the penalty for violation of that provision to EC Section 4.990. These proposed amendments reflect changes made during the 2007 session of the Oregon State Legislature. Note: An immediate effective date requires a 2/3 majority or six affirmative votes from the Council to pass the ordinance. If the ordinance is approved with less than six votes, it will become effective 30 days after passage. BACKGROUND Each biennium, the City Council updates the Eugene Code to ensure that Code provisions are consistent with legislated changes in the State’s criminal and traffic codes. EC Section 5.005 was last updated on January 25, 2006. Since that time, the Legislative Assembly has made changes to the Oregon Vehicle Code, necessitating an amendment to EC 5.005 in order to maintain consistency between state statutes and the Eugene Code. The amendment of EC Section 4.115 incorporates into the Code the offense of minor in possession of alcohol while operating a motor vehicle, a new offense added to the Oregon Revised Statutes by the 2007 Legislature. A public hearing regarding this proposed change was held on February 19, 2008. RELATED CITY POLICIES Municipal courts have concurrent jurisdiction with State courts for all traffic and criminal violations and misdemeanors. The City has maintained consistency between provisions of the Eugene Code and the State statutes in the definition of various violations and misdemeanors in order to provide fair and equitable treatment to offenders. F:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080225\S0802255.doc COUNCIL OPTIONS The council may choose not to add the new subsection to EC 4.115 relating to minors in possession of alcoholic beverages while operating a vehicle. If it is not added, Municipal Court will lack jurisdiction to consider the offense of a minor in possession of alcohol while operating a motor vehicle and City police officers would be required to cite offenders into Lane County Circuit Court. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION After considering public comment from the public hearing held on February 19, the City Manager recommends that the Mayor and City Council approve the proposed updates to Eugene Code 4.115, 4.990 and 5.005. SUGGESTED MOTION Move to adopt an ordinance concerning offenses and State traffic laws; amending sections 4.115, 4.990 and 5.005 of the Eugene Code, 1971; declaring an emergency; and providing an immediate effective date. ATTACHMENTS A. Proposed Ordinance FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Kristie Hammitt Telephone: 682-5019 Staff E-Mail: kristie.a.hammitt@ci.eugene.or.us F:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080225\S0802255.doc ATTACHMENT A ORDINANCE NO. _________ AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING OFFENSES AND STATE TRAFFIC LAWS; AMENDING SECTIONS 4.115, 4.990, AND 5.005 OF THE EUGENE CODE, 1971; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. THE CITY OF EUGENE DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Section 4.115 of the Eugene Code, 1971, is amended as follows: 4.115 Minors - Purchase or Possession of Liquor Prohibited; Exception . (1) Except as provided in section 4.120 of this Code, no minor shall attempt to purchase, acquire, or have in their possession any alcoholic liquor. (2) No minor shall possess any alcoholic liquor while he or she is operating a motor vehicle, as defined in ORS 801.360 (2) 3 For the purposes of this section, possession of alcoholic liquor includes the acceptance or consumption of a bottle of such liquor, or any portion thereof, or a drink of such liquor. The physical act of consuming the alcohol need not occur within the corporate limits of the city. Section 2. The entry for Section 4.115 set forth in Subsection (1) of Section 4.990 of the Eugene Code, 1971, is amended as follows: 4.990 Penalties - Specific . (1) Violation of the following sections is punishable by fine or confinement in jail, or both, up to the amounts indicated opposite each: Section Penalty 4.115(1) 250 fine 4.115(2) 720 fine Section 3. Section 5.005 of the Eugene Code, 1971, is amended as follows: 5.005State Traffic Laws . The provisions of ORS Chapters 801, 802, 803, 805, 806, 807, 809, 810, 811, 813, 814, 815, 816, 818, 819, 820, 821, 822, 823, 825 and OAR 740.100.0010 issued thereunder, and Chapter 153, except for ORS 153.093 and ORS 153.125, are hereby adopted, and violations thereof shall constitute an offense against the city. Ordinance - 1 Section 4. The City Recorder, at the request of, or with the concurrence of the City Attorney, is authorized to administratively correct any reference errors contained herein or in other provisions of the Eugene Code, 1971, to the provisions added, amended or repealed herein. Section 5. Due to actions of the 2007 Legislative Assembly that have became effective, the City Council finds that an emergency exists which cannot be addressed by the ordinance adoption procedures of Section 28(1) of the Eugene Charter of 2002. Pursuant to Section 28(3) of the Eugene Charter of 2002, immediately prior to adoption of this Ordinance, the City Council unanimously agreed to proceed with consideration of this Ordinance at the conclusion of the public hearing. Section 6. Certain Bills passed at the 2007 Legislation Session that amend provisions relating to minors in possession of alcohol and the state traffic laws have become effective, and it is necessary for the preservation of the public health, welfare and safety that this Ordinance have immediate effect. Therefore, Pursuant to the provisions of Section 32(2) of the Eugene Charter of 2002, with the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the City Council, this Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its adoption by the Council and approval by the Mayor, or passage over the Mayor’s veto. Passed by the City Council this Approved by the Mayor this ____ day of ____________, 2008 _____ day of ____________, 2008. _______________________________ ______________________________ City Recorder Mayor Ordinance - 2