Everything You Need to Know About Oregon’s Texting and Driving Laws

Oregon’s recent texting and driving law carries a minimum fine of $260 for a first offense without a crash.
Written by Cassandra Hamilton
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
To combat the rise of distracted driving,
Oregon
enacted a new texting and driving law on October 1, 2017 that carries a minimum fine of $260 and points against
driving records
. Any use of a cell phone is banned for drivers under 18, even if they are using hands-free technology.
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What are the texting and driving laws in Oregon?

The ban on hand-held electronic devices and cell phones while driving is a primary law in Oregon. This means if an officer observes you holding your phone, you can be pulled over and ticketed even if you didn’t commit any other violations. No exceptions are made for filming a #driving TikTok!  
 The
Oregon Department of Transportation
(ODOT) says that between 2015 and 2019, there were 23,783 distracted driving crashes. Of these, 1,920 resulted in fatalities or injuries. An accident caused by distracted driving takes place in Oregon every 2.5 hours. 
  • Visual distraction means you are looking at something other than the road
  • Auditory distraction means you are listening to something unrelated to driving
  • Manual distraction means you are touching anything besides the steering wheel
  • Cognitive distraction means you are thinking about something other than driving
 In short, Oregon defines distracted driving as what “occurs when a driver diverts attention to something not related to driving that uses the driver’s eyes, ears, or hands.”
 Texting and driving is especially dangerous because it combines all four types of distracted driving. Even listening for that new message notification counts as distracted driving. It’s best to keep your phone on silent while driving.

What are the penalties for texting and driving in Oregon? 

If you are caught texting and driving in Oregon, you will be fined and receive points against your driving record. 
If your first offense doesn’t cause a collision, it’s considered a Class B violation. Fines for this offense vary from a base fine of $260 to a whopping $1,000. You’ll also get points on your driving record regardless of the fine. 
If your first texting and driving offense causes an accident, however, the penalties could double. This counts as a Class A violation and carries fines from $435 to $2,000 in addition to points on your record.
Second offenses are also Class A violations, and carry the same fines and points as a first offense with a crash. Third offenses in a ten-year period are Class B misdemeanors, and fines range from $2,000 and $2,500. In addition to points against your record, you could receive a maximum of six months in jail.
 Here’s what that looks like:
As long as your first offense doesn’t cause a crash, Oregon allows you to take a distracted driving class approved by the state. This won’t remove the violation from your record or prevent points from being assigned, but it will erase the fine as long as the course is completed within four months.

Are there exceptions to Oregon’s texting and driving law? 

Yes.
Commercial drivers
, school bus drivers, and drivers whose vehicle weight meets or exceeds 10,001 pounds can use electronic devices within the scope of their employment
Other exceptions include:
  • Calling for medical or emergency help if there is no one else in the vehicle to do so
  • Using a hands-free accessory (if you’re an adult)
  • Driving an ambulance or other emergency vehicle, within the scope of their employment
  • Using an amateur radio with a valid amateur radio operator license
  • Operating a two-way radio within regulatory limits
  • Using a medical device
You can also use your phone if you have pulled over to the side of the road or are in a parking spot. However, you cannot check your phone if you are at a stoplight, a stop sign, or are in traffic. No exceptions are made for using GPS while driving, so opt for programming your destination before you take off.

Are there special rules about texting and driving for young drivers? 

Yes. Drivers under 18 cannot in any circumstance use a cell phone or electronic device while driving.
Key Takeaway Even though texting and driving is illegal in Oregon, you can call for medical or emergency help if no one else in your vehicle can do it.

Can texting and driving raise my insurance premium?

Car insurance premiums typically rise after a
distracted driving ticket
in Oregon. The type of increase you will see depends on your insurance company and the details of your offense. 
 Let’s check out what the dollar amounts look like. The average annual car insurance rate in Oregon for a driver with a clean record is $2,112. After a texting ticket, your rate can increase by 25%!
 Practicing safe driving and keeping your phone away from your hands or using hands-free technology keeps your car insurance rates low. Clean driving records can also earn you
safe driver discounts
as well as keeping you, your passengers, and other drivers safe.

How to save money on car insurance in Oregon

Like we said, texting and driving tickets can majorly cost you. These increases, plus an already-inflated car insurance rate, mean you’ll be paying big bucks for
car insurance
! Thankfully you can access a comparison shopping expert insurance broker from your phone.
 First you’ll need to park your car in a designated parking area and download the
Jerry
app. From there, it only takes a few minutes to enter your information and 45 seconds after that for Jerry to pull competitive quotes from over 50 top insurance companies. You can review the quotes any time you’re not behind the wheel and choose the rate and coverage that best suits you.
 “
Jerry
brought my insurance deductible down from $2.5k to $1k without me having to switch companies. I even had a ticket on my record. If it can help me, Jerry will definitely help you save money.” —Maxwell N.
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FAQs

Yes. Drivers who violate the texting and driving law three or more times in 10 years can face up to six months in jail.
Any type of distracted driving is serious and that includes texting and driving. Texting and driving
not only puts you at risk for injury or death in the event of a crash, but it puts others at risk as well. With such steep consequences, it hardly seems worth the risk.
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