Vetoed by Governor Kate Brown

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes motorcyclists to drive between slow and stopped traffic.

Highlights:

• Establishes a motorcycle operator does not commit the offense of motorcycle or moped unlawful passing in a lane with a vehicle under the following conditions (Sec. 1-3):

• Traffic is stopped or has slowed to a speed of 10 miles per hour or less; and

• The motorcycle operator:

• Operates a motorcycle with two wheels between lanes of traffic traveling in the same direction;

• Travels at a speed of no more than 10 miles per hour greater than the speed of traffic;

• Operates in a prudent manner that does not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic;

• Overtakes a vehicle that is proceeding in the same direction;

• Merges with the regular traffic flow when traffic begins traveling at a speed of more than 10 miles per hour; and

• Is driving on a highway for which the speed limit or the designated speed is 50 miles per hour or higher.

• Establishes a person commits the offense of unsafe passing on the right if the person (Sec. 2-1):

• Drives a vehicle to overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle at any time not permitted under this section; and

• Drives a vehicle to overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle at any time by driving off the paved portion of the highway.

• Specifies a person is not required to drive on the right side of the roadway by this section under any of the following circumstances (Sec. 3-2):

• When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing this movement;.

• When preparing to turn left in an intersection, alley or private road or driveway;

• When an obstruction or condition exists making it necessary to drive to the left of the center of the roadway, provided that a driver doing so shall yield the right of way to all vehicles traveling in the proper direction upon the unobstructed portion of the roadway within a distance as to constitute an immediate hazard;

• Upon a roadway divided into three marked lanes for traffic under the rules applicable on the roadway;

• Upon a roadway restricted to one-way traffic.

• Establishes a person commits the offense of failure to drive within a lane if the person is operating a vehicle upon a roadway that is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic and the driver does not (Sec. 4-1):

• Operate the vehicle as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane; and

• Refrain from moving from that lane until the driver has first made certain that the movement can be made with safety.

• Establishes a person commits the offense of unlawful or unsignaled change of lanes if the person is operating a vehicle upon a highway and the person changes lanes by moving to the right or left upon the highway when (Sec. 5-1):

• The movement cannot be made with reasonable safety; or

• The driver fails to give an appropriate signal continuously during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before changing lanes.

• Prohibits a person from committing the offense of depriving a motorcycle or moped of a full lane if (Sec. 6-3):

• The person is driving a motor vehicle that is not a motorcycle; and

• The motorcycle operator is driving between lanes of traffic.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes motorcyclists to drive between slow and stopped traffic.

Highlights:

• Establishes a motorcycle operator does not commit the offense of motorcycle or moped unlawful passing in a lane with a vehicle under the following conditions (Sec. 1-3):

• Traffic is stopped or has slowed to a speed of 10 miles per hour or less; and

• The motorcycle operator:

• Operates a motorcycle with two wheels between lanes of traffic traveling in the same direction;

• Travels at a speed of no more than 10 miles per hour greater than the speed of traffic;

• Operates in a prudent manner that does not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic;

• Overtakes a vehicle that is proceeding in the same direction;

• Merges with the regular traffic flow when traffic begins traveling at a speed of more than 10 miles per hour; and

• Is driving on a highway for which the speed limit or the designated speed is 50 miles per hour or higher.

• Establishes a person commits the offense of unsafe passing on the right if the person (Sec. 2-1):

• Drives a vehicle to overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle at any time not permitted under this section; and

• Drives a vehicle to overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle at any time by driving off the paved portion of the highway.

• Specifies a person is not required to drive on the right side of the roadway by this section under any of the following circumstances (Sec. 3-2):

• When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing this movement;.

• When preparing to turn left in an intersection, alley or private road or driveway;

• When an obstruction or condition exists making it necessary to drive to the left of the center of the roadway, provided that a driver doing so shall yield the right of way to all vehicles traveling in the proper direction upon the unobstructed portion of the roadway within a distance as to constitute an immediate hazard;

• Upon a roadway divided into three marked lanes for traffic under the rules applicable on the roadway;

• Upon a roadway restricted to one-way traffic.

• Establishes a person commits the offense of failure to drive within a lane if the person is operating a vehicle upon a roadway that is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic and the driver does not (Sec. 4-1):

• Operate the vehicle as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane; and

• Refrain from moving from that lane until the driver has first made certain that the movement can be made with safety.

• Establishes a person commits the offense of unlawful or unsignaled change of lanes if the person is operating a vehicle upon a highway and the person changes lanes by moving to the right or left upon the highway when (Sec. 5-1):

• The movement cannot be made with reasonable safety; or

• The driver fails to give an appropriate signal continuously during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before changing lanes.

• Prohibits a person from committing the offense of depriving a motorcycle or moped of a full lane if (Sec. 6-3):

• The person is driving a motor vehicle that is not a motorcycle; and

• The motorcycle operator is driving between lanes of traffic.

Full Bill Text