EPD launches deflection patrols, traffic safety campaign

Presenter: At the April 9 meeting of the Police Commission, the Chief’s Report. Deputy Chief Jake Burke:

Deputy Chief Jake Burke: Chief Skinner’s at a conference and out of town, so you’re stuck with me for another meeting. 

I just wanted to highlight a couple other things that have gone on, and you may have seen them in the media or not, but we have some officers that are very passionate about deflection and efforts and so we did a media release about some overtime shifts that were done out in the Highway 99, and that was in response to some community concerns about what police could do more at the Highway 99 and efforts to look into that area.

And there were some pretty good statistics over just a couple nights of overtime shifts, and they had eight deflections during that time frame for a variety of low-level crimes involving possession of narcotics and some criminal trespass.

And so that’s a pretty positive impact I think for just a small sample size. And so we plan on continuing to offer those shifts and really encourage our officers to be out there looking at deflection as an option. It’s not always the option. Sometimes arrest is imminent, but, deflection is a good option in some circumstances.

And then the only thing else I’d like to talk about, just high-level, is that for 2026, one of our initiatives will be really focused on traffic safety. And that’s in response to just increase in fatalities, dangerous crashes over the years. And also listening to community concerns about the need or want for more police, not just enforcement, but also education.

And you may have seen also a media release, surrounding certain infractions that we’re sending information out to the community to try to make them aware: distracted driving; fail to obey a traffic control device, and any other kind of infractions. And then also backing that up with more focused attention to those traffic safety issues and stuff.

Primarily the one unit that we have that can be used to go out and work more concentrated efforts towards traffic safety is our Traffic Services Unit, so the motorcycle cops.

But we are also going to start opening up shifts and we’re doing training internally for our officers to try to focus more on unallocated time to go out and concentrate in areas that we’re hearing of, like more serious accidents or crashes.

And then safety issues. And it’s not just motorists: It’s pedestrians, it’s bicyclists, and just different areas within the city. So more to come on that. There’s going to be more discussions citywide.

Last meeting I talked about a captain’s process and promoting captains and that we had a upcoming lieutenant process. So internally I just wanted to tell the board that we had a lieutenant’s process that started,  so by the next meeting we should be able to announce that we promoted a couple lieutenants at least. So that’s positive for us.

Presenter: Chair of the Police Commission Emeilia Foulkes:

Emeilia Foulkes (Police Commission, chair): I met with the mayor last week for our annual check-in just to see how things were going, and it was all sparkly and shiny reviews of this amazing group. Everything’s been going so smoothly.

We’ve almost gone through all of the policies that we had set out for our 2026-27 fiscal year work plan. We just have a couple on the top. So we’re really going through those and we’ve talked about the amazing discussions that we’ve been having.

We do technically have one open spot on the Police Commission. And the mayor, Madam Mayor did update me that they are in the process of recruitment for boards and commissions right now. So they’re in the process of having interviews.

The mayor ultimately will have interviews with individuals. There were five folks who applied to the one position for the Police Commission, which is pretty exciting. So we should have an answer, I believe in June, and I believe that position would start July 1. 

So we’ll know more as it comes. Ultimately, it goes to City Council to approve those folks. So we should have another commissioner hopefully in the near future here.

Presenter: Eugene City Councilor Jennifer Yeh:

Councilor Jennifer Yeh: So Council was on break for several weeks for spring break. Our spring break is slightly longer than a week. So I do not have anything to report that is new from last time. 

I guess I will say our new city manager will be at her first meeting (I have been told) on the 15th, so that is exciting. 

Presenter: At the Police Commission in April, EPD reports that a focus on the Highway 99 area resulted in eight deflections, and that the department will be launching a traffic safety campaign. 

Another team effort focuses on Highway 99 crime issues

from Eugene Police Department

In ongoing work to address issues reported by Highway 99 corridor residents and businesses, Eugene Police has been deploying officers for focused enforcement on Highway 99.

The outreach is centered on contacting people with substance abuse issues and providing them the option of deflection into treatment instead of incarceration.

During the weekend of March 28-29, the officer staffed on two nights of deflection was able to contact eight people and all of them elected to go through deflection. 

Of the eight deflection contacts, five were for fentanyl possession, two for methamphetamine possession, and one for criminal trespass with evidence of active intoxication from methamphetamine.

One contact alone resulted in the seizure of more than 10 grams of methamphetamine. 

The officer conducting the operation concluded, “I am looking forward to continuing to chip away at our addiction crisis one deflection at a time.”

Crime in the Highway 99 area from Barger to Roosevelt has been a topic of Bethel community feedback and concerns. Officers working deflection contact people who are hanging out in front of businesses, trespassing on private property, and blocking sidewalks.

Any eligible suspect with drug addiction is offered deflection. Deflection is a Lane County behavioral health program that is a community-based alternative to jail and prosecution for drug possession and low-level quality of life crimes that offers access to programs and treatment instead of citations and jail. 

Traffic safety will be on EPD’s radar in 2026

from Eugene Police Department

With a noticeable increase in some types of crashes, Eugene Police is making traffic safety a top priority in 2026. In addition to the Traffic Safety Unit being out on the roads, all Eugene Police Patrol units will be putting a premium on noticing and stopping vehicles involved in traffic violations in 2026. Each month, the department’s officers will focus on three topics: a primary driving behavior, a secondary behavior, and an equipment violation. In April, this will be: distracted driving, disobeying traffic control devices, and illegal window tint. 

What you need to know: 

Distracted Driving (Operating motor vehicle while using mobile electronic device. ORS 811.507) – A person commits the offense of driving a motor vehicle while using a mobile electronic device if the person, while driving a motor vehicle on a highway or premises open to the public. This includes holding a mobile electronic device in your hand or using a mobile electronic device for any purpose. 

• Using a mobile electronic device” includes but is not limited to using a mobile electronic device for text messaging, voice communication, entertainment, navigation, accessing the Internet or producing electronic mail. 
• It is ok to use device while parked, off roadway, but stopped in traffic is not allowed. 
• A Hands Free accessory” is an attachment or built-in feature for or an addition to a mobile electronic device that gives a person the ability to keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times while using the device or requires only the minimal use of a finger, via a swipe or tap, to activate or deactivate a function of the device. 
• If the person is under 18 years of age – no cell phone use is permitted. 

The financial cost: 

• First violation: $300 for Eugene Municipal Court/$265 for Lane County Court
• If involved in crash (from use of cell phone) $500 EGM / $440 EGC
• Second violation: $500 for EGM / $440 EGC
• Third violation: CLASS B Misdemeanor / Citation in Lieu of Custody/Jail

Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device (ORS 811.265) – the person is driving a vehicle and fails to obey the directions of any traffic control device or fails to obey any specific traffic control device described in ORS 811.260 (lights, lane markings, signs, etc.). 

Red means stop. You must come to a complete stop at a stop sign before entering the intersection. 

Yellow means stop (unless you can’t).  If you accelerate, you increase the force and severity of a crash

Green means you can go (but look first)

• Bicycles are vehicles. However, they are allowed to treat stop signs like a yield sign. This does not apply to electronically controlled intersections! All other requirements and movements for vehicles apply to bicycles.

The financial cost: 

Violations are Class B Violation – $300 EGM / $265 EGC 

Illegal window tint (ORS 815.222)– Illegal window tinting contributes to crashes when the other road users can’t see inside the vehicle to determine the intention of the driver. If from the outside, you can’t see the driver or details such a clothing or facial features, the tint is illegal. Drivers are required to possess their tint certification card. 

Tint darkness for sedans:

• Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed on the top 6 inches of the windshield.
• Front Side windows: Must allow more than 35% of light in.
• Back Side windows: Must allow more than 35% of light in.
• Rear Window: Must allow more than 35% of light in.

Tint darkness for SUV Pickup Trucks and vans:

• Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed on the top 6 inches of the windshield.
• Front Side windows: Must allow more than 35% of light in.
• Back Side windows: Any darkness can be used.
• Rear Window: Any darkness can be used.

The financial cost: 

Class B Violation $300 EGM / $265 EGC

Equipment violations such as illegal tint can be addressed through the Eugene Police Vehicle Compliance program – If the equipment defect is resolved, a $50 administrative fee is applied and the violation doesn’t get reported to the DMV. Driving Behavioral violations can be resolved through City of Eugene‘s Municipal Court Traffic Deferred Prosecution/Traffic School if a person qualifies (distracted driving/cell phone violations are not eligible for the program): 

• Have a valid driver’s license that is not a commercial driver’s licene
• Have not had any other traffic offenses (pending or convicted in the past two years
• Have not participated in any other traffic diversion program in the last two years

For more information – City of Eugene Municipal Court Traffic-Deferred-Prosecution-Information-Sheet

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This traffic safety message and operation supports the City of Eugene Vision Zero goal. Vision Zero is an approach to transportation safety that aims to eliminate deaths and life-changing injuries caused by traffic crashes.