In a concerted effort to rid public transit of illicit substance abuse, TriMet, in collaboration with Oregon's transit agencies and union representatives, is propelling a legislative proposal that would see drug use on buses and trains classified as a serious misdemeanor offense. As reported by Willamette Week, this push for reform aims to tack on the use of hard drugs, including heroin and methamphetamine, to the criminal act of interfering with public transportation.
The move, eschewing the controversial call to repeal Measure 110—the voter-approved drug decriminalization bill of 2020—opts for a subtler amendment of an existing bill. Trying to solve this problem, Senate Bill 1553 is directed to commission the Oregon Health Authority to study the state's addiction crisis, a policy widely considered to be a delicate terrain in the political landscape.
Furthermore, according to KATU, TriMet's Executive Director of Safety and Security Andrew Wilson voiced the necessity of this legislative amendment, stating, "We need to ensure that our public places related to transit are safe because we need our riders to feel safe." Senate Bill 1553-1, as it stands, would be an extension of already existing public transit regulations, encompassing both vehicles and platforms within its scope.
Forming a united front, the Oregon Transit Association and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757 are the main proponents of the bill, which would significantly alter SB 1553 from its current intention. As indicated by a report from KGW, the proposed amendment has gained noticeable steam with the backing of TriMet and is positioned to convert the act of using drugs on public transit from a mere concern to a penal infraction warranting a more stringent legal consequence.
As the legislative wheels turn, those pushing for the bill's passage argue that the amendment is fundamental to maintaining safety on public transit. The nuanced strategy of targeting a specific behavior rather than unraveling broader, more contentious legislative tapestry, such as Measure 110, might prove to be a legislative sleight of hand that ensures this is not merely about the law but about the reclaiming of public space for the common commuter who justly deserves a ride unencumbered by the specter of substance misuse.
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