http://www.drivinglaws.org/oregon.php

New Cell Phone Law Effective 1 / 2010

House Bill 2377 prohibits all drivers from using a mobile communication device while operating a motor vehicle. A mobile communication device is defined as "a text messaging device or a wireless, two-way communication device designed to receive and transmit voice or text communication".

Under the new law, if you are over the age of 18, you may use a wireless device if you are using a hands free accessory that allows you to keep both hands on the wheel while you are driving. Drivers that are under the age of 18 may not use a wireless device in any case except specific situations such as an emergency or farming or agricultural operations. For other exceptions to the new law please use the link provided below to read the bill.

Like all hands-free laws the usual exceptions include emergencies, safety workers, persons 18 years of age or older using a "Hands-Free Accessory" and emergency services personnel. Prior to this bill only driver's under the age of 18 were prohibited from using an Cell Phone while they were driving.

To read the details of this new law, please to to House Bill 2377
Oregon Driving and Cell-Phone Legislation

House Bill 2872 prohibits drivers that are under 18 years of age from using any type of mobile communication device such as a cell-phone. This includes text-messaging and does not allow for hands-free operation of a cell-phone. This law applies if you are under 18 and driving with a provisional drivers license, a special student driver permit, or a instruction driver permit.

Like many other states around the country, the violation of this cell-phone driving law is a secondary offense. A secondary offense means that the driver using a cell-phone or mobile communication device must first be violating a primary enforcement law such as reckless driving, speeding or running a red light before they can be ticketed for violating the State of Oregon's cell-phone law.

 

Wait... the wording on that is really vague. Does that include 2-way radios and now block CB's and other devices essential in many commercial (and government for that matter) vehicles?

 

Reading the more detailed text, police, fire, and rescue drivers are excluded. CBs themselves are included in the description of 2-way communication device designed to transmit and receive voice, however...

...this exclusion is so wide that just about anyone might be eligible:
So pizza deliveries boys, truck drivers, couriers are clearly excluded, and it would be easy to make a case that you are working at the time, as required.

 

Just put your phone down when you see a cop roll by like we all do in Seattle.

 

Makes sense if they are going to outlaw cell phones then two way radios would be included.

 

georgia has this law too, does not really get enforced unless you are pulled over for soemthing else or if you cause an accident

 

Wash and Calf have this law as well so Oregon is lagging a bit on the West Coast.

 

About time this law got into place..they already have this in Japan..granted, people still do it..

However, if they want to take it to the next step, should start fining people on doing their make-ups while driving, eating, and even saw a guy pulling out his eyebrow hair or something..like..WTF???

 

people will still do it none the less. hell i........ umm yeah.....

 

It is a secondary offense, so by definition, you can't be pulled over for that alone. The cop has to find something else to pull you over for that is a primary offense, so they can cite you for the cell phone usage. Granted, the cop can make up a reason or tail you until they find a reason, and they probably will, but the letter of the law is just that.

 

booo. this is stupid.

 

I'm actually in favor of this. It's simply not a good idea to attempt to operate a device with a little LCD screen that requires you to take your eyes off the road far longer than is safe while operating a moving vehicle. And I'm only talking about scrolling through the contact list to initiate a call. Don't even get me started about texting.

Hang up and drive.

 

^ though i agree with your post, it's still not the government's job to control our cell phone usage. this is just another rule for them to catch people breaking so they can generate more revenue.

nonsense.

 

Or get so good with doing it you don't even have to look to do it. I don't entirely agree with what is said above me its about safety. I'm guilty I've done it but I do it at relights and stops signs

 

True, it can be done safeley, just like speeding. But, we need speed limits. Sad but true. Same difference.