The recent House Bill 2578 passed unanimously in the Oregon House. The bill requires towing agents to photograph towed cars to document they are illegally parked. In addition to the photographs, The Oregonian reported on April 22 that “the bill also requires the tow driver to contact the parking lot owner before removing a car, and it restricts the landlord’s ability to remove cars from parking spots reserved by tenants.”
The article includes when the bill wouldn’t effect towing, explaining, “Exceptions are made for vehicles blocking emergency or exit ways. And if the driver arrives in time, tow truck drivers must release the vehicle, or charge a minimal amount for the cost of unhooking a tow.”
The issue with parking in Portland and everywhere in Oregon is a touchy one, as many have witnessed the races for a parking spot before another car takes it. Or there are always the people who believe they have the right to illegally park just because they are in a car that has sirens.
Last year, the Portland Mercury reported that Portlander Eric Bryant watched a cop illegally park and walk into an Asian restaurant to wait for his food. Eric Bryant said he was sitting in the SanSai Japanese Grill on Northwest 21st and Hoyt in March of 2008 when he witnessed Officer Chad Stensgaard pull up and illegally park his patrol car next to a “No Parking” sign.
According to the Mercury, “When Bryant asked Stensgaard about his vehicle, Stensgaard allegedly acknowledged being in a no-parking zone but asked Bryant, “If someone broke into your house, would you rather have the police be able to park in front of your house or have to park three blocks away and walk there?”
Unfortunately, cases such as this do not generally end up in the newspaper as often as they occur. And unlike Bryant, who at the time of the incident recently passed the Oregon Bar Exam and actually went on and proceeded to take action against Officer Stensgaard, most people just observe.
Using ORS 153.058, Bryant initiated violation proceedings against Officer Stensgaard. The Portland Mercury reported that Bryant alleged that “Stensgaard was in violation of state statutes on illegal parking, illegal stopping, obeying parking restrictions on state highways and illegal operation of an emergency vehicle or ambulance—the violations carry fines totaling $540.”
House Bill 2578 is just another way which will benefit people and stop towing companies from taking your vehicle in front of you. It is bad enough that the workers who tow cars have almost a job description which states “I ruin everyone’s day”. House Bill 2578 will hopefully keep more cars from being taken away, because honestly, who would want to go to the bathroom and come back to your car being gone?