Title 31, Highways, Roads, Bridges and Ferries

(1) If assessments are to be levied as contemplated by ORS 376.735, then at the hearing the legislative body may change the boundaries of the proposed district by adding thereto land which in its opinion will be benefited by the establishment of the pedestrian mall or by excludin…

(1) At the hearing on the resolution of intention the legislative body may allow any claim for damages made pursuant to ORS 376.755 (2). Any such allowance shall be for the full amount of damages claimed in the written claim except that the legislative body, with the written cons…

(1) At the hearing all objections and protests shall be heard and considered, and all claims shall be heard and considered. (2) Any objections or protests, whether to the things proposed by the resolution of intention or to any changes proposed pursuant to ORS 376.765, not made a…

(1) Following the conclusion of the hearing, the legislative body shall by resolution either abandon the proceeding taken pursuant to ORS 376.705 to 376.825 or determine that the pedestrian mall shall be established. (2) If assessments are to be levied as contemplated by ORS 376.…

(1) If following the hearing the legislative body shall determine that the pedestrian mall shall be established, and if at that time there remain any written claims for damages which have not been allowed pursuant to ORS 376.770 or which have not been withdrawn, the legislative b…

After all claims for damages filed pursuant to ORS 376.755 (2) have been finally determined, by allowance by the legislative body, by withdrawal, or by a judgment in an action or actions brought pursuant to ORS chapter 35, and the full amount of damages to be paid has accordingly…

(1) Such assessment may be levied and bonds to represent unpaid assessments issued and sold substantially in the manner provided in ORS 223.005 to 223.105 and 223.205 to 223.930, and to the extent applicable, such law shall govern as to the preparation of the assessment, the land…

(1) All collections of assessments and all proceeds of the sale of bonds issued upon unpaid assessments shall be placed in a special fund and used exclusively for the payment of the damages, if any, and expenses for which the assessments were levied. (2) If there is a surplus in …

Notwithstanding the fact that the proceedings under ORS 376.705 to 376.825 have provided that assessments are to be levied as contemplated by ORS 376.735, the legislative body, at any time and either before or after the adoption of the resolution provided for in ORS 376.780 (1), …

Following the adoption of the resolution provided for in ORS 376.780 (1), and as soon as moneys have been fully provided for the payment of all claims, if any, allowed pursuant to ORS 376.770, and for the payment of all damages and compensation, if any, awarded in any action or a…

(1) Such ordinance shall be adopted and published in the manner, and shall take effect, as provided by law or charter for other ordinances of the city. Such ordinance shall be subject to referendum in the same manner as other ordinances of the city. (2) No payment of allowed clai…

(1) Proceedings under ORS 376.705 to 376.825 and the adoption of such ordinance notwithstanding, the city and its legislative body shall retain its police powers and other rights and powers relating to the city streets constituting a part of the pedestrian mall. No action taken p…

(1) The city and its legislative body shall have the power to improve a pedestrian mall as provided in ORS 376.720 (1)(d), and for the accomplishment, in whole or in part, of that purpose may use ORS 223.005 to 223.105 and 223.205 to 223.930 or any similar special assessment law.…

(1) Operation of a motor vehicle by any person over a contract forest road in violation of the contract provisions as to equipment, weight, width, length or height, is a Class A misdemeanor. The definitions in ORS 376.310 apply to this section. (2) Violation by any person of any …

No person shall dig up, cut down, injure, destroy or in any manner remove any trees growing upon the right of way of any state highway without first procuring the written consent of the Department of Transportation.

Whenever any person, firm or corporation, including any public, municipal or private corporation and any privately or publicly owned utility or cooperative association, desires to dig up, cut down, injure, destroy or in any manner remove any trees growing upon the right of way of…

(1) Upon the filing of the application mentioned in ORS 377.040 the Department of Transportation may, if in its judgment and discretion the destruction or removal of the trees will not mar or in any way affect the scenic beauty of or otherwise harm, injure or affect the highway, …

The Oregon Transportation Commission shall conduct a study of the historic, scenic and cultural values of the state highway system. The study required by this subsection is subject to the following: (1) In developing the study the commission shall appoint a volunteer citizen advi…

When a highway, portion of a highway or highway related structure is designated as an historic and scenic highway under ORS 377.100, the Oregon Transportation Commission and the Department of Transportation: (1) Shall provide for the rehabilitation, restoration, maintenance and p…

As used in ORS 377.505 to 377.540: (1) “State highway” has the meaning given that term in ORS 377.710. (2) “Scenic area” means an area adjacent to or along a segment of a state highway that is within a federal or state park, is a site of historical significance or affords a view …

(1) A sign that is visible from a state highway may not be erected or maintained in an area that has been established by final order as a scenic area except: (a) Traffic control signs or devices. (b) Signs other than outdoor advertising signs, as defined in ORS 377.710. (c) Signs…

Any sign lawfully maintained in a scenic area prior to the establishment of the area as a scenic area and not included within the exceptions of ORS 377.510, shall be removed by the owner thereof prior to seven years following the establishment of the area as a scenic area, unless…

All scenic areas designated prior to October 4, 1977, shall continue to retain their designation as scenic areas. [1977 c.578 §2] Note: 377.521 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to ORS 377.505 to 377.540 by legislative action. See Preface to Orego…

The Director of Transportation shall take appropriate action for the administration and enforcement of orders issued under the provisions of ORS 377.505 to 377.545 (1975 Replacement Part). [1961 c.614 §10; 1963 c.400 §20; 1977 c.578 §4; 1993 c.741 §46]

As used in ORS 377.605 to 377.655, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “Department” means the Department of Transportation. (2) “Director” means the Director of Transportation. (3) “Federal-aid primary system” means the federal-aid primary system in existence on June 1, 19…

The Legislative Assembly hereby finds and declares that establishment, maintenance and operation of junkyards along public highways should be controlled in accordance with the provisions of ORS 377.605 to 377.655 in order to protect the public investment in such highways, promote…

(1) The Director of Transportation shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out the provisions of ORS 377.605 to 377.655. Except where federal law or rules and regulations require otherwise as a condition to receipt of federal granted funds, the rules shall be …

(1) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, no junkyard in existence on June 30, 1967, may be maintained after June 30, 1967, within 1,000 feet of the nearest edge of the right of way of: (a) The Interstate System. (b) The federal-aid primary system. (c) Other state…

(1) Any junkyard which is in existence on June 30, 1967, less than 1,000 feet from the nearest edge of the right-of-way line and visible from the main traveled way of the Interstate System or the federal-aid primary system and is not in a zoned industrial area, may be screened by…

(1) Where a junkyard is in existence on June 30, 1967, less than 1,000 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way line of the Interstate System or federal-aid primary system, is not in a zoned industrial area, and cannot be effectively screened as provided in ORS 377.625 (1), t…

(1) Any junkyard which comes into existence after June 30, 1967, and which is in violation of ORS 377.620, is hereby found and declared to be a public nuisance. The Director of Transportation, 30 days after written notice is mailed to the person owning or operating the junkyard, …

The Department of Transportation may acquire by purchase, agreement, donation, or the exercise of the power of eminent domain, such lands or interest in lands as may be necessary for the screening or the relocation, removal or disposal of junkyards. In exercising the power of emi…

(1) The Department of Transportation may expend moneys appropriated to the department for the purposes of the screening, relocating, removal or disposal of junkyards as provided in ORS 377.625 to 377.640, except that the department may not use moneys that are subject to the provi…

Any personal property not coming within the definition of junk, except a vehicle as defined in ORS 801.590 or a manufactured structure as defined in ORS 446.561, that is deposited, left or displayed on a state highway is hereby found and declared to be a public nuisance. Except a…

(1) If personal property is deposited, left or displayed under a state highway bridge, on property along a river and within an urban growth boundary, and the personal property is a public nuisance under ORS 377.650, the Department of Transportation may remove, store and dispose o…

(1) The Department of Transportation shall adopt rules consistent with this section to provide procedures for the removal and disposition of portable signs or personal property that has been repeatedly left, deposited or displayed in violation of ORS 377.650. (2) Rules adopted by…

ORS 377.700 to 377.844 and 377.992 shall be known and may be cited as the Oregon Motorist Information Act of 1971. [1971 c.770 §1]

To promote the public safety; to preserve the recreational value of public travel on the state’s highways; to preserve the natural beauty and aesthetic features of such highways and adjacent areas; to provide information about and direct travelers to public accommodations, servic…

(1) The Department of Transportation shall ensure that all construction and engineering plans for state highways identify the locations of motorist informational signs, tourist oriented directional signs and logo signs. The department shall adopt written plans for protecting the …

(1) As part of the negotiation process between the Department of Transportation and another road authority concerning transfer of jurisdiction over a state highway from the department to the other road authority, the department shall identify any tourist oriented directional sign…

As used in ORS 377.700 to 377.844 unless the context otherwise requires: (1) “Back-to-back sign” means a sign with multiple display surfaces mounted on a single structure with display surfaces visible to traffic from opposite directions of travel. (2) “Commercial or industrial zo…

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of ORS 377.700 to 377.780, the owner of any outdoor advertising sign in existence on May 30, 2007, located in a commercial or industrial zone in existence on May 30, 2007, that meets all requirements for obtaining an outdoor advertising sign per…

(1) For purposes of this section: (a)(A) An owner of an outdoor advertising sign shall be considered to have suffered a total loss with respect to the outdoor advertising sign if, due to a highway construction project, the outdoor advertising sign is removed from its current loca…

ORS 377.700 to 377.844, and the rules adopted pursuant thereto, apply to signs erected or maintained outside the right of way along state highways and visible to the traveling public from a state highway. A person may not erect or maintain a sign visible to the traveling public f…

A sign may not be erected or maintained if it: (1) Interferes with, imitates or resembles any traffic control sign or device, or attempts or appears to attempt to direct the movement of traffic. (2) Prevents the driver of a motor vehicle from having a clear and unobstructed view …

Notwithstanding any other provision of ORS 377.700 to 377.844, the Department of Transportation shall not issue a permit under ORS 377.725 or 377.767 unless the applicant for the permit submits affidavits that meet the following requirements: (1) The applicant must submit an affi…