Safety Laws in Oregon

Seat Belts

Seat Belt Laws for Adults

Oregon requires all adult drivers and passengers to wear a seat belt at all times while the vehicle is in motion. Vehicle owners have the responsibility to maintain proper seat belt equipment. While there are a few exceptions, this law applies to most vehicles, such as cars, pick-up trucks, and motor homes.

Child Car Seat Laws

• If your child is under age four or weighs below 40 pounds, you are required to use an approved child safety seat.

• If your child is between ages four and six or weighs between 40-60 pounds, you are required to use a booster seat. Note: this means if your child satisfies any of the requirements, you must use a booster seat. For example, if your child is over the age of 6 but still weighs between 40-60 pounds, you still must restrain him or her in a booster seat.

If you're in the market for one, you can shop online for a child car seat at any time. When ordering, be sure the car seat matches your child's height, weight and age.

Below are links if you have questions or need help with child car seats:

• ACTS Oregon Child Safety Seat Resource Center & Helpline

• Partners for Child Passenger Safety

• Pregnancy and Safety Belts

Cell Phones and Texting

Cell phone restrictions:

• All drivers of all ages are banned from using hand-held cell phones.

• All drivers under 18 are banned from all cell phone usage.

Texting restrictions:

• Texting is banned for all drivers, regardless of age, while behind the wheel.

Bicycle/Motorcycle Helmet Laws

Regardless of age, anyone riding on a motorcycle must wear a helmet.

Also, if you're under 16 years old, you must wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.

Headlight Laws

Headlights must be turned on from sunset to sunrise, and any time visibility is reduced to less than 1,000 feet. The law also states that any time drivers turn on the windshield wipers, they are required to have the headlights on regardless of time of day.

High beams can't be used when within 500 feet of approaching vehicles, or within 350 feet of vehicles heading in the direction of the driver.

Oregon law also requires headlights to be turned on when windshield wipers are in use.

Reporting Unsafe/Drunk Drivers

Call 911 to report a driver who may be intoxicated, or who is driving so erratically that lives may be in danger.

If outside city limits, drivers may also call (800) 24DRUNK to report suspected drunk drivers.

Unattended Children/Pets

While Oregon doesn't have any statewide laws specifically concerning the issue of leaving children or pets unattended in a vehicle, some jurisdictions have rules covering these matters. So, contact local authorities to determine if such rules exist in your area.

However, leaving a child unattended long enough that it poses a threat to the child's safety is considered to be child neglect by the state, a second-degree offense.

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