As the Legislative session for 1925 cranked up, one of the more interesting bills concerned drunk driving.
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| January 28th, 1925 |
It was a little surprising to see that this was not primarily framed as a way to improve traffic safety.
Instead it was mainly about prohibition, a way to penalize drinking more heavily and to enforce temperance.
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| January 28th, 1925 |
It may not be the first "drunk driving" legislation in Oregon, however. Wikipedia says New Jersey's law was first in 1906 and New York followed in 1910. A random Oregon DUI lawyer's page says Oregon's first was in 1913, which would coincide with the start of the Highway Commission and is a plausible date, but it was not easy to confirm this, and we'll have to come back to that another time.
Tentatively, then, this was the first headline level mention, and marks a shift in tone and emphasis.
The headlines for the session also mark greater organization for the motor vehicle lobby and autoist interests. They seem to have overstepped, however.
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| January 28th, 1925 |
From the piece:
The [Oregon State] motor association has been and still is persistent to the length of demanding the enactment of its program, and has even assumed a dictatorial attitude that is not wearing well with many of the solons....
[A member of the house said,] "That motor association bunch is taking itself too damned seriously."
However there was another proposal.
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| January 29th, 1925 |
An automobile association card could be used as bail following arrest for a traffic offense, and if they didn't appear in court, the fine would be forfeited and could be deducted from an association account deposited with the state. The membership card would then be returned to the association.
That's a "get out of jail free" option! Wild special privilege for car operators and owners.
We'll follow up on any of these that make it into law. Together they show gathering strength for autoist interests.
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| January 29th, 1925 |
Not at the Legislature, but also interesting to note, is what looks like the beginning of the bridge program associated with R.A. Furrow.
The program is generally assigned to start in 1927 and to Mayor Livesley rather than to Mayor Giesy, but it appears Mayor Giesy deserves credit for setting it in motion. There will be more to say about this as we follow its development in 1925.
Previously see:
- "Restoring the Church Street Bridge" (2023)
- And the list of bridges in "Sledding down Lincoln Street on Fairmount Hill 100 years ago" (2024)
1 comment:
Really interesting historical look at the development of drunk driving laws and the relationship between motor vehicle organisations and early transportation policies. It’s fascinating to see how road safety concerns, legal approaches, and the growing influence of automobile groups shaped discussions around driving regulations in the 1920s. Articles like this provide a valuable perspective on how today’s road safety practices evolved over time.
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Thanks for sharing this insightful piece—it’s always interesting to learn how transportation laws and automotive culture have developed throughout history.
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