Makes you wonder: What will it take for people to stop driving

with disregard for the law and consequences?

(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Despite the serious risks to their pocketbooks, their community, and themselves, a large number of Portlanders continue to display rampant illegal and dangerous behaviors when behind the wheel of an automobile.

Last month we shared that Portland Police Bureau officers, working in partnership with the Bureau of Transportation, issued 60 violations in under four hours during an enforcement action at SE 24th and Powell back in May.




In June, the same program focused on NE Glisan Street at 87th Avenue. And they netted nearly the same result: 52 violations and 6 warnings. Here’s the breakdown of illegal behaviors people were punished for:

– 25 Failure to stop and remain stopped for pedestrian

– 1 Driving while suspended

– 1 Driving while revoked

– 4 Violation of Speed

– 1 Misuse of special left turn lane

– 12 Illegal use of a cell phone

– 2 No operator’s license

– 4 No proof of insurance

– 2 Passing stopped vehicle at marked crosswalk

– 6 warnings for failing to stop for a person in a crosswalk

With Portland’s new focus on Vision Zero, these enforcement efforts should be scrutinized by the public and by policymakers.

And on that note, we all need to ask ourselves: What will it take for people to stop breaking so many laws and stop putting lives at risk with their poor choices and dangerous behaviors? What are the best infrastructural and cultural remedies to address this epidemic?

— PBOT has been coordinating these enforcement actions since 2005. For a tally of the violations from each one, download this PDF. Read more coverage about this program in our archives.











Front Page

traffic enforcement action