A Portland cyclist who says she was slammed by a red light runner in June 2024 is now asking how a crash that shattered her ankle still ended with no ticket for the driver. Lisa Timmerman suffered several broken ribs and a shattered ankle that required multiple surgeries and months of recovery. Yet the driver who hit her was not cited, a move that local attorney Chris Thomas describes as part of a larger pattern. Thomas, who represents cyclists and pedestrians, told reporters he has handled about 20 similar cases in which officers declined to issue citations despite what he describes as clear evidence.
Crash at Clinton and Cesar Chavez
Video and the police report show a blue vehicle entering the intersection and sideswiping Timmerman as she crossed SE Clinton at Cesar Chavez, leaving her injured and requiring ambulance transport, as reported by KPTV. Timmerman told reporters she was stunned to read the police report’s conclusion that the driver would not be cited because she was "remorseful and apologetic." That finding has become a focal point for advocates who say enforcement is inconsistent.
Attorney: enforcement is uneven
Thomas and other advocates say officers sometimes treat collisions as insurance matters rather than criminal or traffic-law violations. The officer's line in the police report, "I decided to not cite Bell because she was remorseful and apologetic for hitting the cyclist," and Thomas’s account were documented by BikePortland. The broader concept has been examined in academic analysis of so-called "windshield bias" by Findings, which looks at how car-centric thinking can shape responses to traffic crashes.
What state law allows
Oregon's careless-driving statute says that if a traffic violation contributes to the serious physical injury of a vulnerable user, such as a cyclist, courts can impose enhanced penalties including traffic-safety courses, 100–200 hours of community service, fines and potential license suspension, per Oregon Revised Statute 811.135. The statute also directs officers to note on a citation when an offense appears to have contributed to serious injury.
Police bureau response
The Portland Police Bureau told reporters that officers have discretion and weigh the "totality of the circumstances" when deciding whether to issue a citation, according to KPTV. The bureau said officers consider victims' wishes among other factors when making enforcement decisions.
Advocates press for change
Thomas and local safety groups have urged the Multnomah County district attorney and city leaders to press for clearer enforcement so drivers face consistent consequences, as reported by BikePortland. The Portland Bureau of Transportation continues to roll out Vision Zero projects and automated enforcement on high-crash corridors, but advocates say infrastructure must be paired with consistent accountability, per PBOT.
For Timmerman, the absence of a citation is more than a paperwork quibble, it is a reminder that survivors often bear the physical, financial and emotional costs of crashes. City leaders, prosecutors and the Portland Police Bureau now face renewed pressure to show whether policy and practice will align to keep vulnerable road users safer.
