How2Day: Oregon Traffic Laws

When you drive in Oregon, you're going to face as many traffic laws as any other state. However, Oregon has some unique laws and fines for violations you need to understand before driving roads there. As of 2010, Oregon has also added a few new traffic laws designed to make road travelers safer, according to the Oregon website.

Oregon makes U-turns illegal, as you might expect. Oregon defines a U-turn as turning a car around in an intersection controlled by a traffic signal or between intersections located within the limits of a city. You also aren't allowed to do a U-turn on a highway if traffic from either direction can't see your car within 500 feet if you are within city limits or 1,000 feet outside the city limits. If caught doing a U-turn, it's considered a Class C felony. Should your U-turn cause an accident in the process, it's a Class B felony.

Oregon has specific kinds of traffic lights at intersections that can be easily misunderstood by someone visiting from out of state. For green lights, a solid green light means you can go any direction at an intersection, though yielding to traffic. However, an arrow-shaped green light allows you to proceed through an intersection in any direction without having to yield. For yellow lights, a solid yellow light means that any right-of-way you have is about to be terminated. A yellow light with an arrow means the same unless you enter the intersection to go either direction with another signal. A solid red and an arrow-shaped red means to stop under all circumstances until there's a solid or arrow-shaped green light.

A driver in Oregon is in violation of the basic speeding rule if they drive on a highway that exceeds what's posted or what's necessary in the event of weather, traffic or lack of visibility. Violation of this law is a Class B felony in Oregon.

Overall, if you go up to ten miles over the speed limit, it's a Class D felony. Up to 20 miles over the limit is a Class C felony, up to 30 miles over the limit a Class B felony and speeding more than 30 miles over the limit is a Class A felony. A Class A felony happens sooner if the speed limit is 65 mph on a highway and you go 20 miles over that limit. If you exceed 100 mph, you may get a $1,000 fine and suspension of driving privileges up to 90 days.

As of 2010, Oregon has imposed new traffic laws like the "Move Over" law that requires you to pull over to another lane when an emergency vehicle is coming from any direction with its lights on. Drivers cannot use cell phones while driving unless it's a hands-free cell phone. Those under 18 aren't allowed to use cell phones of any kind while driving. Additionally, DUI penalties in Oregon have increased to a minimum $2,000 fine if your blood alcohol level is over .15.

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