69th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--1997 Regular Session Enrolled House Bill 2377 Sponsored by Representative LUKE (at the request of J. D. MacArthur, Bend; Robert Glynn, Chief, Bend Police Department; John Maniscalco, Captain, Bend Police Department; Dennis Jones, Community Service Officer, Bend Police Department) CHAPTER ................ AN ACT Relating to parking for disabled persons; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 811.632. Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon: SECTION 1. { + Section 2 of this Act is added to and made a part of ORS chapter 811. + } SECTION 2. { + (1) A person commits the offense of blocking a parking space reserved for disabled persons if the person: (a) Stops or parks a vehicle in such a way as to block access to a parking space that is on private or public property and that is marked or signed to provide parking for disabled persons; or (b) Places an object or allows an object to be placed in such a manner that it blocks access to a parking space that is on private or public property and that is marked or signed to provide parking for disabled persons. (2)(a) Unless the police officer or other authorized person issuing the citation witnesses the stopping or parking of a vehicle in violation of subsection (1)(a) of this section, there is a rebuttable presumption that the vehicle was stopped or parked by the registered owner of the vehicle and a citation issued for the violation may be placed upon the vehicle. If the stopping or parking of the vehicle is witnessed by the police officer or other person authorized to issue a citation for the offense, or if the operator is in the vehicle, the operator of the vehicle is in violation of this section. (b) Unless the police officer or other authorized person issuing the citation witnesses the blocking of a parking space in violation of subsection (1)(b) of this section, there is a rebuttable presumption that the owner of the parking lot placed or allowed placement of the object blocking access to the parking space and a citation may be issued to the owner. If a police officer or other person issuing the citation sees a person placing an object in violation of subsection (1)(b) of this section, the officer or other person may issue the citation to the person seen. (3) For purposes of this section, a parking space includes any adjacent access aisle as described in ORS 447.233. (4) The offense described in this section, blocking a parking space reserved for disabled persons, is a Class D traffic Enrolled House Bill 2377 (HB 2377-B) Page 1 infraction except that a person in violation of this section shall pay a minimum fine of $50. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a court may not suspend imposition or execution of a sentence to pay at least the minimum fine required by this section unless the court finds that the defendant is indigent. + } SECTION 3. ORS 811.632 is amended to read: 811.632. (1) A law enforcement agency authorized to enforce parking laws may appoint volunteers to issue citations for violations of ORS 811.615, 811.625 and 811.630 { + and section 2 of this 1997 Act + }, or of ordinances dealing with parking privileges for disabled persons. Volunteers appointed under this subsection must be at least 21 years of age. The law enforcement agency appointing the volunteers may establish any other qualifications the agency deems desirable. (2) Any agency appointing volunteers under this section shall provide training to the volunteers before authorizing them to issue citations. (3) A citation issued by a volunteer appointed under this section shall have the same force and effect as a citation issued by a police officer for the same offense. ---------- Passed by House May 6, 1997 Repassed by House June 12, 1997 ........................................................... Chief Clerk of House ........................................................... Speaker of House Passed by Senate June 10, 1997 ........................................................... President of Senate Enrolled House Bill 2377 (HB 2377-B) Page 2 Received by Governor: ......M.,............., 1997 Approved: ......M.,............., 1997 ........................................................... Governor Filed in Office of Secretary of State: ......M.,............., 1997 ........................................................... Secretary of State Enrolled House Bill 2377 (HB 2377-B) Page 3