US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

Chapter 811 — Rules of the Road for Drivers

 

2007 EDITION

 

RULES OF THE ROAD FOR DRIVERS

 

OREGON VEHICLE CODE

 

DUTIES TO PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLES

 

811.005     Duty to exercise due care

 

811.015     Failure to obey traffic patrol member; penalty

 

811.017     Failure to yield to traffic patrol member; penalty

 

811.020     Passing stopped vehicle at crosswalk; penalty

 

811.025     Failure to yield to pedestrian on sidewalk; penalty

 

811.028     Failure to stop and remain stopped for pedestrian; penalty

 

811.030     Driving through safety zone; penalty

 

811.035     Failure to stop and remain stopped for pedestrian who is blind; penalty

 

811.050     Failure to yield to rider on bicycle lane; penalty

 

811.055     Failure to yield to bicyclist on sidewalk; penalty

 

811.060     Vehicular assault of bicyclist or pedestrian; penalty

 

811.065     Unsafe passing of person operating bicycle; penalty

 

SPEED

 

(Basic Rule)

 

811.100     Violation of basic speed rule; penalty

 

811.105     Speeds that are evidence of basic rule violation

 

811.106     Operation of flashing light indicating children in school zone

 

811.108     Relationship between speed limits and basic rule

 

(Maximum Speeds)

 

811.109     Penalties for speed violations

 

811.111     Violating a speed limit; penalty

 

811.124     Meaning of “children are present” in ORS 811.111

 

(Racing)

 

811.125     Speed racing on highway; penalty

 

811.127     Organizing a speed racing event; penalty

 

(Impeding Traffic)

 

811.130     Impeding traffic; penalty

 

CARELESS AND RECKLESS DRIVING

 

811.135     Careless driving; penalty

 

811.140     Reckless driving; penalty

 

SPECIAL SAFETY MEASURES

 

811.145     Failure to yield to emergency vehicle or ambulance; penalty

 

811.147     Failure to maintain safe distance from emergency vehicle or ambulance; penalty

 

811.150     Interference with emergency vehicle or ambulance; penalty

 

811.155     Failure to stop for bus safety lights; penalty

 

811.157     Report by driver of violation of ORS 811.155; contents

 

811.159     Law enforcement agency response to report of violation of ORS 811.155

 

811.160     Interference with rail fixed guideway system operation; penalty

 

811.165     Failure to stop for passenger loading of public transit vehicle; penalty

 

811.167     Failure to yield right of way to transit bus; rules; penalty

 

OPEN CONTAINER VIOLATIONS

 

811.170     Violation of open container law; penalty

 

DISPOSING OF HUMAN WASTE

 

811.172     Improperly disposing of human waste; penalty

 

DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED OR REVOKED

 

811.175     Violation driving while suspended or revoked; penalties

 

811.180     Affirmative defenses

 

811.182     Criminal driving while suspended or revoked; penalties

 

DRIVER OFFENSES INVOLVING PASSENGERS

 

811.190     Operation with obstructing passenger; penalty

 

811.195     Having passenger in trailer; penalty

 

811.200     Carrying dog on external part of vehicle; penalty

 

811.205     Carrying minor on external part of vehicle; penalty

 

811.207     Legislative findings

 

811.210     Failure to properly use safety belts; penalty

 

811.215     Exemptions from safety belt requirements

 

811.220     Certificates of exemption from safety belt requirement

 

811.225     Failure to maintain safety belts in working order; penalty

 

HIGHWAY WORK ZONES

 

811.230     Definitions; fine; notice

 

811.231     Reckless endangerment of highway workers; penalties

 

811.232     Refusing to obey flagger; penalty

 

811.233     Failure to yield right of way to highway worker; penalty

 

SCHOOL ZONE PENALTIES

 

811.235     Fine for traffic offenses in school zones

 

GENERAL DRIVING RULES

 

(Generally)

 

811.250     Law applicable to vehicles registered out of state

 

811.255     Permitting unlawful operation of vehicle; penalty

 

(Traffic Control Devices)

 

811.260     Appropriate driver responses to traffic control devices

 

811.265     Failure to obey traffic control device; penalty

 

811.270     Failure to obey one-way designation; penalty

 

(Right of Way)

 

811.275     Failure to yield right of way at uncontrolled intersection; penalty

 

811.277     Failure to yield right of way at uncontrolled T intersection; penalty

 

811.280     Failure of driver entering roadway to yield right of way; penalty

 

811.285     Failure of merging driver to yield right of way; penalty

 

811.290     Obstructing cross traffic; penalty

 

811.292     Failure to yield right of way within roundabout; exception; penalty

 

(Driving on the Right)

 

811.295     Failure to drive on right; exceptions; penalty

 

811.300     Failure to drive on right of approaching vehicle; exceptions; penalty

 

811.305     Driving on left on curve or grade or at intersection or rail crossing; exceptions; penalty

 

811.310     Crossing center line on two-way, four-lane road; exceptions; penalty

 

811.315     Failure of slow driver to drive on right; exceptions; penalty

 

811.320     Failure to drive to right on divided highway; exceptions; penalty

 

811.325     Failure to keep camper, trailer or truck in right lane; exceptions; penalty

 

811.330          Driving wrong way around traffic island; penalty

 

(Turning)

 

811.335     Unlawful or unsignaled turn; penalty

 

811.340     Improperly executed left turn; penalty

 

811.345     Failure to use special left turn lane; penalty

 

811.346     Misuse of special left turn lane; penalty

 

811.350     Dangerous left turn; penalty

 

811.355     Improperly executed right turn; penalty

 

811.360     When vehicle turn permitted at stop light; improper turn at stop light; penalty

 

811.365          Illegal U-turn; penalty

 

(Lane Use)

 

811.370     Failure to drive within lane; penalty

 

811.375     Unlawful or unsignaled change of lane; penalty

 

811.380     Improper use of center lane on three-lane road; penalty

 

811.385          Depriving motorcycle or moped of full lane; penalty

 

(Signaling)

 

811.390     Unlawful use of lights to signal for passing; penalty

 

811.395     Appropriate signals for stopping, turning, changing lanes and decelerating

 

811.400     Failure to use appropriate signal for turn, lane change, stop or exit from roundabout; penalty

 

811.405          Failure to signal with lights; exceptions; penalty

 

(Passing)

 

811.410     Unsafe passing on left; penalty

 

811.415     Unsafe passing on right; penalty

 

811.420     Passing in no passing zone; exceptions; penalty

 

811.425          Failure of slower driver to yield to overtaking vehicle; penalty

 

(Prohibited Places)

 

811.430     Driving on highway divider; exceptions; penalty

 

811.435     Operation of motor vehicle on bicycle trail; exemptions; penalty

 

811.440     When motor vehicles may operate on bicycle lane

 

811.445     Use of throughway when prohibited; penalty

 

811.450          Violation of posted truck routes; defense; penalty

 

(Rail Crossings)

 

811.455     Failure to stop for railroad signal; penalty

 

811.460     Failure to follow rail crossing procedures for high-risk vehicles; application; penalty

 

811.462     Failure of operator of commercial motor vehicle to slow down and check tracks; penalty

 

811.465     Exemptions from high-risk vehicle rail crossing procedures

 

811.470     Improper movement of heavy equipment across rail crossing; application; penalty

 

811.475          Obstructing rail crossing; penalty

 

(Miscellaneous)

 

811.480     Illegal backing; penalty

 

811.483     Safety corridors; penalty

 

811.485     Following too closely; penalty

 

811.490     Improper opening or leaving open of vehicle door; penalty

 

811.492     Engine braking; penalty; exception

 

811.495     Unlawful coasting on downgrade; exception; penalty

 

811.500     Unlawful stop or deceleration; penalty

 

811.505     Failure to stop when emerging from alley, driveway or building; penalty

 

811.507     Operating motor vehicle while using mobile communication device; penalty

 

811.510     Dangerous operation around livestock; penalty

 

811.512     Unlawfully operating low-speed vehicle on highway; penalty

 

811.514     Unlawfully operating racing activity vehicle on highway; penalty

 

USE OF LIGHTS AND WARNINGS

 

(Lights)

 

811.515     When lights must be displayed; kind of light; number; direction; use on certain vehicles

 

811.520     Unlawful use or failure to use lights; penalty

 

811.525     Exemptions from requirements for use of lights

 

811.526     Safety campaign for use of headlights

 

(Flares)

 

811.530          Failure to post warnings for disabled vehicle; application; penalty

 

OBEYING POLICE

 

811.535     Failing to obey police officer; penalty

 

811.540          Fleeing or attempting to elude police officer; penalty

 

PARKING, STOPPING AND STANDING

 

(Generally)

 

811.550     Places where stopping, standing and parking prohibited

 

811.555     Illegal stopping, standing or parking; affirmative defense; penalty

 

811.560     Exemptions from prohibitions on stopping, standing and parking

 

811.565     Dangerous movement of stopped, standing or parked vehicle; penalty

 

811.570     Improperly positioning parallel parked vehicle; exception; affirmative defense; penalty

 

811.575     Violation of posted parking restrictions on state highways; affirmative defense; penalty

 

811.580     Parking vehicle on state highway for vending purposes; penalty

 

811.585          Failure to secure motor vehicle; affirmative defense; penalty

 

(Winter Recreation Parking Areas)

 

811.590     Unlawful parking in winter recreation parking area; exemptions; penalty

 

811.595     Winter recreation parking permit; rules; fees

 

811.600          Fees for winter recreation parking permits

 

(Parking for Persons With Disabilities)

 

811.602     Disabled person parking permit; content; rules

 

811.603     Identification card without photograph; issuance; rules

 

811.604     Application for disabled person parking permit

 

811.605     Contents of individual placard or decal

 

811.606     Parking permit for person with temporary disability

 

811.607     Program placards; rules

 

811.609     Family placards

 

811.611     Foreign visitor placard

 

811.612     Maintenance of privileges after relocation

 

811.613     Wheelchair User placard; rules

 

811.615     Unlawful parking in space reserved for persons with disabilities; exceptions; penalty

 

811.617     Blocking parking space reserved for persons with disabilities; penalty

 

811.620     Removal of vehicle illegally parked in space reserved for persons with disabilities

 

811.625     Unlawful use of disabled person parking permit; penalty

 

811.627     Use of invalid disabled person parking permit; penalty

 

811.630     Misuse of program placard; penalty

 

811.632     Appointment of volunteers to issue citations

 

811.635     Privileges granted by disabled person parking permit other than program placard

 

811.637     Privileges granted by program placards

 

ACCIDENTS

 

(Duties)

 

811.700     Failure to perform duties of driver when property is damaged; penalty

 

811.705     Failure to perform duties of driver to injured persons; penalty

 

811.706     Money damages resulting from violation of ORS 811.700 or 811.705

 

811.707     Crime classification for violation of ORS 811.705

 

811.710     Failure to perform duties of driver when animal is injured; penalty

 

811.715     Failure to perform duties of witness to accident; penalty

 

811.717     Failure to remove motor vehicle from highway; penalty

 

(Reports)

 

811.720     When accident must be reported

 

811.725     Driver failure to report accident; penalty

 

811.730     Owner failure to report accident; penalty

 

811.735     Failure of vehicle occupant to make accident report; penalty

 

811.740          False accident report; penalty

 

FUNERAL PROCESSIONS

 

811.800     Operation of funeral vehicles with improper lights; penalty

 

811.802     Failure to yield right of way to funeral procession; penalty

 

811.804     Intersection rules for funeral processions

 

811.806     Exceeding maximum speed for funeral procession; penalty

 

811.808     Exemption from speed limits for funeral escort vehicle

 

811.810     Disrupting funeral procession; penalty

 

811.812     Free passage for funeral procession vehicles

 

DUTIES TO PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLES

 

      811.005 Duty to exercise due care. None of the provisions of the vehicle code relieve a pedestrian from the duty to exercise due care or relieve a driver from the duty to exercise due care concerning pedestrians. [1983 c.338 §543]

 

      811.010 [1983 c.338 §544; 1985 c.16 §279; 2003 c.278 §1; repealed by 2005 c.746 §4]

 

      811.015 Failure to obey traffic patrol member; penalty. (1) The driver of a vehicle commits the offense of failure to obey a traffic patrol member if:

      (a) A traffic patrol member makes a cautionary sign or signal to indicate that students have entered or are about to enter the crosswalk under the traffic patrol member’s direction; and

      (b) The driver does not stop and remain stopped for students who are in or entering the crosswalk from either direction on the street on which the driver is operating.

      (2) Traffic patrol members described in this section are those provided under ORS 339.650 to 339.665.

      (3) The offense described in this section, failure to obey a traffic patrol member, is a Class A traffic violation. [1983 c.338 §545; 1995 c.383 §12; 2003 c.278 §2]

 

      811.017 Failure to yield to traffic patrol member; penalty. (1) The driver of a vehicle commits the offense of failure to yield to a traffic patrol member if the driver fails to stop and yield the right of way to a traffic patrol member who:

      (a) Has entered a crosswalk for the purpose of directing students who have entered or are about to enter the crosswalk; and

      (b) Is carrying a flag or wearing something that identifies the person as a traffic patrol member.

      (2) For purposes of this section, “traffic patrol” has the meaning given that term in ORS 339.650.

      (3) The offense described in this section, failure to yield to a traffic patrol member, is a Class A traffic violation. [2003 c.557 §2]

 

      811.020 Passing stopped vehicle at crosswalk; penalty. (1) The driver of a vehicle commits the offense of passing a stopped vehicle at a crosswalk if the driver:

      (a) Approaches from the rear another vehicle that is stopped at a marked or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway; and

      (b) Overtakes and passes the stopped vehicle.

      (2) The offense described in this section, passing a stopped vehicle at a crosswalk, is a Class B traffic violation. [1983 c.338 §546]

 

      811.025 Failure to yield to pedestrian on sidewalk; penalty. (1) The driver of a vehicle commits the offense of failure to yield to a pedestrian on a sidewalk if the driver does not yield the right of way to any pedestrian on a sidewalk.

      (2) The offense described in this section, failure to yield to a pedestrian on a sidewalk, is a Class B traffic violation. [1983 c.338 §547; 1995 c.383 §42]

 

      811.028 Failure to stop and remain stopped for pedestrian; penalty. (1) The driver of a vehicle commits the offense of failure to stop and remain stopped for a pedestrian if the driver does not stop and remain stopped for a pedestrian when the pedestrian is:

      (a) Proceeding in accordance with a traffic control devic