EPD Targets Distracted Driving, Illegal Tint as Crashes Rise

Eugene police kicked off April with a citywide traffic enforcement push targeting distracted driving and illegal window tint, part of a year-long campaign the department launched in response to a noticeable increase in crashes across the city.

All EPD patrol units are now operating under a monthly three-topic framework, concentrating on a primary driving behavior, a secondary behavior, and an equipment violation each month. April's lineup: distracted driving as the primary focus, disobeying traffic control devices as the secondary, and illegal window tint as the equipment violation.

Under Oregon law, distracted driving means holding or using a mobile electronic device for any purpose while behind the wheel, including text messaging, voice calls, navigation, entertainment, internet use, and email. Stopping in traffic does not create a legal exception, and drivers cannot use a device unless the vehicle is parked fully off the roadway.

The fines escalate sharply with repeat offenses. A first violation that does not contribute to a crash is a Class B infraction with a Eugene-set fine of $300, though the maximum the court can impose is $1,000. A second offense, or any first offense that does contribute to a crash, jumps to a Class A violation with a $500 base fine and a $2,500 ceiling. A third offense within 10 years crosses into criminal territory as a Class B misdemeanor, carrying a potential fine of up to $6,250 and up to one year in jail.

First-time offenders who avoid crashes can ask a judge to suspend the fine by completing an approved distracted driving avoidance course within four months and presenting proof to the court. The violation, however, remains on the driving record regardless. Unlike some traffic infractions, distracted driving and cell phone violations are not eligible for any diversion program.

The national picture underscores why EPD is treating the behavior as a priority. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distraction-affected crashes killed 3,308 people across the United States in 2022 alone, accounting for 8 percent of all traffic fatalities that year. Over the five-year span from 2018 to 2022, those crashes killed 15,960 people and injured roughly 1.8 million more.

EPD's Traffic Safety Unit, which comprises seven motorcycle officers and a sergeant, anchors the campaign internally under the message "Eyes Forward." While Traffic Safety Unit officers can dedicate most of their shifts to enforcement, all patrol officers are participating in the monthly priority pushes as well.

Oregon's window tint standard requires at least 35 percent light transmission on vehicle windows, and illegal tint, a common secondary violation found during traffic stops, is now a formal monthly focus rather than an incidental catch.