Oregon’s 2024 Impaired Driving Strategic Plan: A Summary

As times and lifestyles change, impaired driving laws tend to evolve. Such laws can be extremely complex, encompassing much more than drinking too much before getting behind the wheel. To reduce impaired driving, one of the most important actions a state can take is to conduct a thorough review of its DUII system.

In June 2024, Oregon’s Governor’s Advisory Committee (GAC) on Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII) developed the Impaired Driving Strategic Plan (IDSP) with the goal of providing a comprehensive approach to preventing and reducing impaired driving across the state. In adopting this plan, Oregon hopes to continue to reduce traffic fatalities by focusing on the fatalities caused by impaired drivers. 

It is advantageous for all Oregon drivers to be familiar with the IDSP. Doing so may help you be more safety conscious, as well as allow you to support the initiative to reduce impaired driving accidents and fatalities in Oregon. In this article, we will provide a summary of the key goals and tactics of the Impaired Driving Strategic Plan.

If you have been involved in an accident with an impaired driver, please don’t hesitate to call Johnston Personal Injury Law Firm or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation. We are standing by to explain Oregon’s DUII laws and guide you through your claim.

DUII Impairment in Oregon

In 2023, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2316, which renders drivers criminally liable for DUII if they are determined to be impaired by any substance. This statute significantly broadens what substances may be considered intoxicants for a driver.

Since 2017, fatality crashes related to drug-only impaired driving have surpassed alcohol-only fatality crashes across the state. Every Oregon driver should be aware that the abuse or overconsumption of a wide variety of both legal and illegal substances could result in a DUII conviction.

DUII Impaired Driving Strategies

The Governor’s Advisory Committee on DUII has devised the following specific goals and strategies in its plan to reduce DUII convictions and fatalities. It is hoped that, once the strategies are fully implemented, there will be marked improvements statewide.

Strategy 1: DUII prevention program management and activities

Oregon’s DUII prevention programs and activities are guided by problem identification and monitored for effectiveness. Various programs assist in providing timely DUII prevention publications, meetings, conferences, and other training and educational opportunities for both the public and private sectors.

Strategy 2: Continued support of the annual DUII Multi-Disciplinary Training Conference

Oregon’s annual DUII Multi-Disciplinary Training Conference focuses on a variety of impaired driving issues. These encompass cannabis impairment, DUII case law, and reducing the risk of DUII. Each year, the conference includes law enforcement, prosecutors, toxicologists, treatment and prevention providers, parole and probation, liquor and cannabis control, and other professionals. 

The aim is to assist in heightening the awareness of impaired driving. The speakers present on a variety of topics, which typically range from prevention and addiction to emerging trends.

Strategy 3: Increase DUII education and training

The continuing education and training of those involved in the efforts to reduce DUII in Oregon is an important part of the strategic plan. Thus, the GAC on DUII will provide timely encouragement and technical support to further the development and coaching of law enforcement officers, prosecutors, medical personnel, traffic safety advocates, and others.

Furthermore, attention will be given to supporting community education and DUII awareness programs.

Strategy 4: Increase DUII high visibility enforcement

Oregon conducts frequent, highly visible, and well-publicized impaired driving enforcement efforts throughout the state. These continuous efforts are focused on areas identified as having high incidences of alcohol or drug-related crashes. The goal is to combat impaired driving and reduce injuries and deaths.

These DUII Saturation Patrols work to increase drivers’ awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and deter those who may be impaired from driving. Additionally, they investigate DUII offenses to reduce the number of impaired drivers on the roadways. The state intends to increase the number of law enforcement agencies participating in these events.

Strategy 5: Continued DUII legislation

Strategies in the area of DUII legislation include such things as:

• Enacting legislation to strengthen the state’s ignition interlock device laws
• Enacting legislation to reduce Oregon’s impairment threshold 
• Enacting legislation to create an “open container” equivalent for cannabis and other drugs, similar to the existing statute for alcoholic beverages
• Enacting legislation to require blood testing for alcohol and all drugs of drivers involved in fatal crashes
• Enacting legislation that provides resources dedicated to impaired driving prevention
• Exploring legislation to support the use of electronic search warrants or other means of quickly obtaining toxicology samples

Such legislation will help bring Oregon into alignment with nationwide best practices for DUII prevention and enforcement. 

Strategy 6: Increase DUII prosecution and adjudication efforts

The statewide enforcement plan includes enforcing DUII statutes to the fullest extent. 

Further attention will be given to:

• Developing and providing continuous DUII training for law enforcement officers, prosecutors, toxicologists, and judges
• Developing a statewide electronic search warrant system and providing training on the use of it
• Determining where breakdowns are occurring in the trials of impaired-driving defendants by expanding court monitoring of DUII-related cases
• Expanding DUII Courts to assist in reducing relapses among repeat offenders
• Utilizing electronic DUII monitoring systems and other programs requiring periodic breath testing of convicted DUII offenders

These steps will help to ensure that Oregon DUII laws are fully implemented and followed. Additionally, drivers convicted of a DUII will be well monitored during the probation period. 

Strategy 7: Improve and expand DUII prevention communications

The state wishes to work cooperatively with the media in promoting and publicizing DUII prevention, enforcement activities, and related events that assist in educating the public on the hazards of DUII. In line with this, efforts will be made to routinely distribute DUII prevention materials to the media and other organizations.

Strategy 8: Promote and support community and transportation safety

Community and traffic safety is at the core of Oregon’s Impaired Driving Strategic Plan. 

In order to enhance the safety of all Oregonians, the plan includes the following items:

• Continuing to work closely with traffic safety professionals, law enforcement, prosecutors, medical professionals, liquor and drug control personnel, prevention specialists, and others in supporting efforts to improve transportation safety
• Continuing to educate children, parents, and the community about substance abuse issues 
• Assisting in developing model policies for schools to address underage drinking and drug abuse issues
• Expanding drug impairment training for education professionals and employers
• Educating employers about the ignition interlock laws and requirements in the state
• Assisting and promoting Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s (MADD) initiatives statewide

Strategy 9: Support DUII treatment and rehabilitation programs

Impaired driving is frequently an indicator of serious alcohol or substance abuse disorders. Thus, it is critical to assess impaired driving offenders for certain conditions and implement early treatment interventions.

To back the concept that prevention and education are critical components in deterring DUII, the strategic plan intends to accomplish the following:

• Supporting and promoting effective, mandatory treatments of DUII offenders
• Continuing to work with various groups on improving programs and reducing the rate of DUII repeat offenders 
• Supporting training opportunities to improve treatment practices and understanding of co-occurring disorders

Strategy 10: Increase DUII program evaluation and data collection

The state will work to develop a system to track all DUII offenses going forward – from arrest through post-adjudication processes. Oregon will also create a statewide electronic search warrant system for DUII offenses and make mobile data terminals and devices for roadside use by officers more available.

Additionally, within 2 years, efforts will be made to:

• Increase the number of ignition interlock devices
• Maintain or increase the number of certified drug recognition experts statewide
• Maintain the number of participating city and county agencies in high-visibility enforcement
• Provide initial impairment detection training to all ODOT commercial motor vehicle inspectors

Reach Out to a Knowledgeable Oregon Personal Injury Attorney for Advice

The 2024 Impaired Driving Strategic Plan recognizes that the safety of Oregon communities is fostered each time an impaired driver is detected, removed from the roadway, held accountable, and given effective treatment. Still, if you have been injured in a car accident caused by an intoxicated or impaired driver, you may be facing almost insurmountable challenges.

This is no time to go it alone. DUII claims and allegations can be complicated and are best handled by a well-practiced attorney. At Johnston Law Firm, we work tirelessly to help injured Oregonians get the restitution they deserve after being hurt by another person’s negligent or reckless actions.

Please don’t wait to get the help you need after a DUII accident. Call Johnston Personal Injury Law Firm directly or fill out our online contact form for a free case review. We want to hear your story.