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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