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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 2005)
Page 13 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, December 28, 2005 Crash reports required to DMV directly Jan. 1 Drivers and owners of vehicles involved in traffic crashes will need to submit accident reports directly to DMV, as part of several new laws taking effect Jan. 1, 2006. Previously, accident reports could be submitted to law enforcement agen- cies, as well as DMV, in Oregon. Law enforcement agencies then forwarded the reports to DMV. Senate Bill 78, passed by the 2005 Legislature, changed Oregon law to re- quire that crash reports be submitted directly to DMV. “This will reduce the number of people who han- dle a report before it reaches us, which should reduce the chances that reports are lost or delayed,” DMV Admin- istrator Lorna Youngs said. Reports can be dropped off at any DMV field office, where most have marked drop boxes. Individuals also can mail their reports to DMV headquarters using the address listed in the in- structions that come with the form. Accident reports forms can be obtained at DMV field offices or at www.OregonDMV.com Under Oregon law, a vehicle crash must be re- ported: *When there is fatality to a person, including pas- sengers, pedestrians or bicy- clists, each driver involved in the accident or owner of a vehicle must send a report. *When there is damage to property or injury to a person in excess of $1,500, each driver involved in the accident or vehicle owner must submit a report. *When a vehicle in- volved in a crash is dam- aged to the extent that the vehicle must be towed -- even if the damage is less than $1,500 -- each driver involved in the accident or vehicle owner must submit a report. DMV will suspend the driving privileges of a driver involved in a crash or owner of a vehicle involved in a crash if an accident report is not submitted. Prompt reporting of crashes is a key safety program. A combination of crashes and traffic violations on a driver’s record can indicate unsafe driv- ing, and DMV can suspend driving privileges. Oregon Dept. of Trans- portation analyzes crash data for trends or patterns, and uses it to improve traffic safety. New law to boost safety Several changes to Ore- gon laws that will take effect in January focus on traffic safety inside vehicles -- in- cluding passengers as well as drivers: *House Bill 2361 clari- fies Oregon law by giving DMV authority to automati- cally revoke a driver’s li- cense after a third conviction for driving under the influ- ence of intoxicants. Previous law stated that a court could order revocation with a third conviction. Intoxicants are a factor in more than one-third of traffic fatalities. *Senate Bill 568 allows courts to suspend a driver’s license for up to 30 days for motorists convicted of driv- ing more than 30 mph faster than the speed limit or by going 100 mph or faster. The conviction must take place after Jan. 1, 2006. Excessive speed is a factor in approxi- mately a third of Oregon traffic deaths. *House Bill 2811 ex- pands the Oregon law pro- hibiting placement of a tele- vision screen within view of a driver to include all image devices, such as DVD and CD players. The law ex- empts vehicle navigation systems. Distractions to driv- ers increase the chances of a crash. *Senate Bill 76 adds the term “legal guardian” to clar- ify who may withdraw pa- rental consent for a driver younger than 18. The bill also removed the obsolete language permitting an em- ployer to withdraw consent for a minor’s driving privi- leges. *Senate Bill 367 re- quires drivers and passengers in privately owned commer- cial vehicles that carry 15 or fewer people to use safety restraints. The law exempts tax operators themselves and places the responsibility for proper use of child safety restraints on adults with the child. *Senate Bill 487 allows Oregon residents returning from active deployment out- side the United States up to 90 days after discharge to renew their expired driver’s license or vehicle registra- tion. The grace period will apply only to citations writ- ten on or after Jan.1, 2006. During the 2005 session, lawmakers also clarified two aspects of Oregon vehicle registration laws: *Senate Bill 998 in- creases the minimum weight at which a vehicle must be registered by weight to more than 10,000 pounds, replac- ing the 8,000-pound thresh- old. The change will allow the heaviest pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles to be registered as passenger vehicles rather than by weight, as with commercial vehicles. All the preceding laws will take effect Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006. THE ANGEL CHOIR from First Love Christian Fellow- ship in Cave Junction descended upon Fairview Tran- sitional Center in Grants Pass last week to entertain the residents. The choir was taken for its holiday pres- entation by Sandy Stellflug and Vikki Duffy, who are Sunday school teachers at First Love. Guitar music for the Angel Choir is provided by Ginger Caudill. The inspiration to take the youngsters to Fairview was Stellflug’s, and the presentation proved to be success- ful. The elderly people loved the children, and the chil- dren said that they felt blessed to experience the fel- lowship. Fairview staff were given two large baskets of goodies by the angels. They extended an open invi- tation to return next year. (Photos provided) ‘Terrific Tawana’ returns to assist at middle school “Terrific Tawana” -- also known as Tawana Gra- barz -- has returned to Lorna Byrne Middle School to assist students in various areas. “As a lifetime resi- dent of the Illinois Val- ley, it is my pleasure to be working within the same school district from which I graduated,” she said. “My role at LBMS is that of a stu- dent advo- cate and as- sistant to students in their social and aca- demic suc- cess,” she said. “Although I have de- grees in addiction counsel- ing CADCi and social work MSW, my services at the school stop short of therapy. “Middle school can be a difficult transition from be- ing a child to becoming an adolescent. As a supportive adult, I listen to hopes, fears, dreams, concerns, and frus- trations. Sometimes listen- possible consequences.” Grabarz continued, “I may visit with a student once or several times, de- pending on the need. Topics include school attendance, ing is all that is needed for students. “Other times,” she said, “I offer suggestions and new information or discuss alter- native choices. And explore grades, friendships, physical development, self-esteem, communication, problem solving, peer pressure, rela- tionships, developing tal- ents, appreciating others, LBMS Student Council a ‘go’ This year’s members of the Lorna Byrne Middle School Student Council have been welcomed by Mimi Osipovich, council adviser. Members are Sierra Heikka, Xenia Velasco, Myana Dhenin, Zachary Kay, Felisha Ripley, Ashley Webb, Lucas Harris, Taylor Harris, Anthony Ripley, Laurissa Tausaga, Chris Culver, Heidi Unger- Tresurer; and Site Council members Autumn Isenagle, Woody Gutchall-Douglas, and Ben Kendall. Student Council, with the LBMS Chapter of the National Honor Society, is participating in the “Anti- Bullying Program.” It con- sists of educating students on how bullying effects stu- dents, communication re- garding bullying, surveys and suggestions boxes. “We also hope to have an inspirational speaker,” said Osipovich. grief/loss and general grow- ing up issues. “If the student has needs beyond what I can offer or if issues fall within my man- datory reporting guidelines, I will refer stu- dents to other services,” said Grabarz. She continued, “Otherwise my discussions with students remain confidential. “In addition to meeting with students in school, I also facilitate an af- ter-school girls group. It’s TACS: Look sharp, Be sharp Tactics for healthy transi- tion into adoles- cence. “The students of Lorna Byrne,” said Grabarz, “are full of life and talent. I ap- preciate the opportunity to assist them as they reach for their full potential,” she con- cluded. Special Productions In the SOFCU building, downtown C.J. ~ Victorian Lampshades ~ Gifts & Collectibles ~ Vintage Rhinestone Jewelry 592-2034 The key to a Happy New Year: Don’t drink and drive. Do I want to have a baby? Yeah… maybe someday But not now! For information on strategies to avoid unplanned pregnancies, call the Pregnancy Center 592-6058 All services are confidential and free of charge www.pregnancycenteriv.org The Kerby Transfer Station is open to help you... Hours: Mondays - Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information phone (800) 922-1025
