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01-05-06 The Vernonia Police Department would like to wish everyone prosperous and healthy New Year. The department has many plans for 2006 to enhance our community and make Vernonia a Safe and Healthy place to live. The VPD participated in a county-wide DUII Enforcement on New Years Eve. The enhanced patrols were organized by the Oregon State Police and funded by DUII and Safety Belt grant funds. According to my officers Vernonia stayed very quiet. Everyone they spoke to were being very responsible with designated drivers or they were just walking to their destinations. We had no DUII arrests, major disturbances, and everyone appeared to ring in the New Year safely. I want to now follow up my last article regarding the new Oregon Laws that took effect on January 1, 2006. There is page on the VPD website discussing the new laws in more detail but I want to highlight a few of the changes. SB 78 requires drivers to submit accident report forms to the DOT and not law enforcement. The VPD will still respond to accidents and determine if the police will file a report but if only the driver's forms are needed then they must be submitted to DOT and not the police. The VPD will still provide accident forms and even pre-addressed envelopes to mail the forms in if you request one. SB 591 is the amended or fix to the crosswalk law. In a nutshell, the law says that a driver still must yield to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks but after yielding can continue on once the pedestrian is 6 feet or further from your vehicle. Previously you needed to wait until the pedestrian was out of the crosswalk before continuing. If there is a center island, you can continue on once the pedestrian is beyond half the lane on the other side of the island. If you have any questions or need any clarification of the new laws contact me at the department or email me at chief@vernonia-or.gov and I will give you the answer or find you the answer.