LOC News
HB 2095 Advances to Senate Floor
The LOC and our community partners have supported expanded authority for the use of mobile and fixed photo radar to all cities for the last three legislative sessions. Thus far this session, this legislation has moved through the process without any organized opposition. HB 2095 moved off the House floor this week with a 35-20 vote. See the floor presentation here (time stamp is 39.25).
Letters of support from cities will be needed to keep the momentum going in the Senate. HB 2095 is expected to be in the queue for a Senate floor vote by the end of next week. The LOC needs member cities to contact their state Senators over the next week. These legislators need to hear that cities support the LOC’s efforts and they should vote in support of HB 2095. A floor letter that includes all the details of this public safety measure is now available, and outreach is especially needed from rural communities.
HB 2095 has three components:
1. All cities will have authority to use fixed or mobile photo radar.
- Cities that have used this technology have shown success in reduced speeds that in-turn reduced vehicular crashes and improved neighborhood safety.
2. Use of mobile/fixed photo radar will be allowed in high-speed corridors. Currently use is confined to high-crash corridors.
- This change will reduce the chances of travel corridors becoming a high-crash corridor.
3. The current local speed setting authority is confined to changes in 5 mph increments.
- This bill will allow for up to a 10 mph change in speed on local streets.
City comments should include the following:
- Comments related to the value of traffic safety, and the reduction of crash intensity will be helpful.
- Comments that support expanding the use of mobile/fixed photo radar beyond high-speed crash corridors will be helpful. It makes much more sense to avoid creating the high-crash corridor before photo radar can be used. That’s the reason for the change.
- Comments in support of flexibility to allow for up to a 10 mph adjustment on a local street will be helpful. Some cities have adjusted their local street speed twice in order to reach a speed that makes sense for the neighborhood.
Contact: Jim McCauley, Legislative Director - jmccauley@orcities.org
Last Updated 4/7/23