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Albany adopts traffic safety diversion ordinance allowing municipal-judge discretion
Summary
The Albany City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance creating a traffic safety diversion program for certain municipal-court traffic violations. Staff said the city piloted the program Oct. 1 and removed an age cap; the municipal judge will retain discretion on case eligibility.
The Albany City Council on Jan. 14 adopted an ordinance establishing a traffic safety diversion program for certain traffic violations in Albany Municipal Court.
City court administrator September Ridgeway told the council the city began a pilot of the diversion program on Oct. 1 to work out operational issues and that staff removed a prior age cap. "We began the program back in October just to make sure we worked out any kinks before this went into place," Ridgeway said.
Ridgeway and other staff said the program is designed to allow appropriate participants to complete diversion in place of a conviction. Councilors asked whether the municipal judge could apply categorical restrictions in the future. Ridgeway said the program "wouldn't be based on age" and that the municipal judge would have discretion to exclude a case if there were extenuating circumstances, but she did not anticipate routine exclusions.
Councilors also confirmed the program is a single-use diversion per person. "Once," Ridgeway said when asked whether a person may go through the diversion more than once.
The city attorney read the ordinance title, the council moved and seconded adoption, and the mayor called the voice vote. The ordinance was adopted by the council.
The ordinance implements Albany Municipal Code section AMC 13.53 and directs the municipal court to operate the diversion program under the judge's discretion. Staff said the program draws on elements used by neighboring courts and was refined during the October pilot.
The council did not attach additional restrictions during the vote; staff and the municipal judge will oversee participant eligibility and implementation reporting. The ordinance takes effect as provided in the city code.
