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Lawmakers hear testimony on bill to allow automated photo radar in active highway work zones
Summary
A public hearing on Senate Bill 711 drew testimony from legislators, contractors and unions describing frequent speeding in Oregon work zones and backing a narrowly tailored automated photo-radar program that would run only when workers are present, require signage and police review of citations, and use revenue first to fund the program.
Salem — The Joint Committee on Transportation opened a public hearing Feb. 25 on Senate Bill 711, legislation that would require the Oregon Department of Transportation to operate automated photo radar systems in highway work zones while workers are present.
The bill, presented by co-chair Sen. Chris Gorsek and supported by House co-sponsor Rep. Courtney Neiron, would allow ODOT to place mobile photo‑radar units on the same roadway as active crews, require clear signage within one mile of the enforcement location, and limit citations to vehicles exceeding the posted speed limit by six miles per hour or more.
"This bill seeks to update the laws governing the use of photo radar systems to protect highway workers and improve enforcement and administration," Sen. Chris Gorsek said. "Photo radar is only for active work zone times, when the workers are present." He emphasized the stated goal is changing driver behavior rather than maximizing citations.
Neiron told the committee the bill would amend ORS 810.411, which currently restricts use of mobile photo radar to locations within 100 yards of a roadway configuration change and requires operation from a marked police vehicle by a uniformed police officer. She said the current restrictions have limited ODOT’s use of mobile photo radar since 2018 and cited an earlier Medford deployment as evidence of the technology’s effect on speeds.
"During that 15‑day period [in 2018], mobile photo radar deployed over four‑hour shifts captured 1,058 work zone photo radar violations and resulted in 686 speeding citations — a rate of 11.5 citations issued per hour," Rep. Neiron said. She added that ODOT’s 2022 report showed speeds were lower in both directions when photo radar equipment was in place.
Under SB 711, citations would be reviewed and signed by a police officer before being mailed to the registered vehicle owner within 30 days; vehicle owners would have 30 days to respond and could submit certificates of innocence or non-liability. Revenues would first cover program costs, with any excess allocated to traffic‑safety initiatives including speed enforcement and additional work‑zone safety measures. The bill would also require ODOT to perform a biannual program evaluation on safety effects, public acceptance and administrative efficiency.
Supporters at the hearing included contractors, paving associations, engineering groups and union representatives who described frequent dangerous conditions for crews and near misses when law enforcement is not present. John Hickey, executive director of the Asphalt Pavement Association of Oregon, said workers consider typical work‑zone reductions of 10 mph (for example from 65 to 55 mph) unsafe and that enforcement changes driver behavior.
"If a vehicle hits a barrel or a sign at 55 miles an hour, it turns that barrel or sign into a projectile that can injure or kill someone," Hickey said, adding that automated enforcement provides an option when police cannot safely stage in a work zone.
Several contractors recounted near misses and property damage on projects where law enforcement was present or absent; Laborers Local 737 representative John Hanner described being struck by a vehicle in 2015 and said automated enforcement kept drivers slowed longer than a temporary police presence.
A few witnesses urged caution about automated enforcement mechanics and discretion. Rich Engstrom (transcript spelling), president of the Oregon Concrete & Aggregate Producers Association, said his background as a deputy district attorney made him wary of photo radar but that he had been persuaded to support use of the technology when framed as a construction safety tool rather than a revenue generator.
Representative Mannix asked whether a statistic on fatalities cited earlier applied to Oregon. Rep. Neiron said the figure came from ODOT’s Medford data and committed to providing more specific breakdowns to the committee.
Committee co‑chairs closed the public hearing after the testimony; no committee action or vote on SB 711 was recorded during the session.
