On Monday, February 12th, ATU 757, Oregon Transit Association (OTA), Portland and Eugene Chambers, Oregon's youth and others testified in favor of a bill that would create a Class A Misdemeanor of Interfering with Public Transportation if a person uses illicit drugs on and around transit in Oregon. The Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee heard from Anouk Cohen, a Portland youth that has had run-ins with people on drugs while commuting to school on the MAX Light Rail. Anouk said Oregon's youth deserve to feel safe on Public Transportation in Oregon. TriMet Operator David McKinnon bravely shared his story of overcoming addiction and how it took consequences to make the needed changes in his life so he could be a contributing citizen in Oregon. He is now coming up on his 10-year anniversary with TriMet!

SB 1553-1 Information: Judiciary Senate 2024 Regular Session - Oregon Legislative Information System (oregonlegislature.gov)

The hearing can be watched at the following link: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/mediaplayer/?clientID=4879615486&eventID=2024021106

ATU 757 members will be asked to contribute written testimony about their experiences with users of illicit drugs while working at Transit Systems in Oregon. Please start gathering your thoughts and write them down. When the window for testimony opens, we will share the link so you can submit it. We need this change, our communities need this change!

News coverage on the Bill can be found below.

Oregon lawmakers look to criminalize drug use, disorderly conduct on public transit (katu.com)

Oregon transit workers fight drugs on buses and trains - Axios Portland

TriMet and Other Transit Systems Push to Criminalize Drug Use on Buses and Trains (wweek.com)