Portland’s Minor Parking Ticket Write-Off’s Expire
July 1, 2010 by Josh77 · 170 Comments
Portland’s parking-ticket forgiveness program, which allows drivers to “write off” one parking ticket per car every six months, is now officially a thing of the past. In order to meet the city’s $196 million budget, Portland is ending the program – to the ire of some downtown small business owners. Officials estimate that ending the program will bring in an additional $500,000 per year to the city’s budget. “It was either that or raise the property tax. The program primarily helped unassuming customers. Therefore, I don’t believe that visitors who knew of the program will stop coming,” said John Peverada, head of Portland’s Parking Division.
Clackamas County Opens Justice Court to Handle Traffic Tickets, Other Low-Level Violations
March 20, 2010 by Josh77 · 9 Comments
Clackamas County is the home of a new, local Justice Court. It’ll handle traffic tickets, fish and game license violations, possession of less than ounce of marijuana and other low-level violations. In regards to traffic fines, the new court will allow the city to keep a larger share of the money then it would through state court systems, and then use that money to improve traffic safety in the county. Authorities who issue tickets outside city limits can still cite cases to the new Justice Court.
State Farm Sues Deschutes Brewery Over Former Employee’s Drunken Crash
February 22, 2010 by Josh77 · 193 Comments
State Farm Insurance is suing the employer of a man who was convicted for DUI (and other charges) stemming from an incident on February, 22, 2008. Joseph Umphery was working at Deschutes Brewery where drinking was permitted. (Parties disagree about how much drinking was permitted.) After drinking for several hours at the brewery’s keg room and brew pub, Umphery went to a strip club where he consumed more beers – despite, allegedly, being visibly drunk. He was eventually thrown out of the strip club and escorted to his car. After leaving the club, Umphery crashed into the back of a Toyota 4-Runner, causing it to roll over several times and injure its 3 occupants. Because Umphery didn’t have auto insurance, the victim’s insurance, State Farm, paid out $230,000 for the accident. They are now suing Deschutes Brewery and the strip club for the money.
