Or. Rev. Stat. » Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 819.120

Immediate custody and towing of vehicle constituting hazard or obstruction; rules

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      819.120 Immediate custody and towing of vehicle constituting hazard or obstruction; rules. (1) An authority described under ORS 819.140 may immediately take custody of and tow a vehicle that is disabled, abandoned, parked or left standing unattended on a road or highway right of way and that is in such a location as to constitute a hazard or obstruction to motor vehicle traffic using the road or highway.

      (2) As used in this section, a “hazard or obstruction” includes, but is not necessarily limited to:

      (a) Any vehicle that is parked so that any part of the vehicle extends within the paved portion of the travel lane.

      (b) Any vehicle that is parked so that any part of the vehicle extends within the highway shoulder or bicycle lane:

      (A) Of any freeway within the city limits of any city in this state at any time if the vehicle has a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or less;

      (B) Of any freeway within the city limits of any city in this state during the hours of 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. if the vehicle has a gross vehicle weight of more than 26,000 pounds;

      (C) Of any freeway within 1,000 feet of the area where a freeway exit or entrance ramp meets the freeway; or

      (D) Of any highway during or into the period between sunset and sunrise if the vehicle presents a clear danger.

      (3) As used in this section, “hazard or obstruction” does not include parking in a designated parking area along any highway or, except as described in subsection (2) of this section, parking temporarily on the shoulder of the highway as indicated by a short passage of time and by the operation of the hazard lights of the vehicle, the raised hood of the vehicle, or advance warning with emergency flares or emergency signs.

      (4) An authority taking custody of a vehicle under this section must give the notice described under ORS 819.180 and, if requested, a hearing described under ORS 819.190.

      (5) The power to take vehicles into custody under this section is in addition to any power to take vehicles into custody under ORS 819.110.

      (6) Subject to ORS 819.150, vehicles and the contents of vehicles taken into custody under this section are subject to a lien as provided under ORS 819.160.

      (7) The person that tows a vehicle under this section shall have the vehicle appraised within a reasonable time by a person authorized to perform such appraisals under ORS 819.480.

      (8) Vehicles taken into custody under this section are subject to sale or disposal under ORS 819.210 or 819.215 if the vehicles are not reclaimed under ORS 819.150 or returned to the owner or person entitled thereto under ORS 819.190.

      (9) The Oregon Transportation Commission, by rule, shall establish additional criteria for determining when vehicles on state highways, interstate highways and state property are subject to being taken into immediate custody under this section. [1983 c.338 §418; 1985 c.77 §1; 1991 c.464 §1; 1995 c.758 §9; 2007 c.509 §1; 2009 c.371 §7]

 

      819.130 [1983 c.338 §419; 1985 c.16 §221; 1993 c.385 §4; repealed by 1995 c.758 §23]

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2024–2025 · leading case: Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems v. State of Oregon
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Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems v. State of Oregon (2024) ord · cites it 2× “§ 65- 16,130 (provision of state pharmacy act—which provides for civil fines of up to $5,000 for violations of the act or the rules promulgated by the state board of pharmacy—granting the board authority to impose requirements on certain pharmacies in the form of criteria that…”
State v. Gonzalez (2025) orctapp · cites it 2× “190 permits a person whose car is towed under ORS 819.120 to “request a hearing * * * to contest the validity of the towing and custody.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 819.120(1) — 1 case
State v. Gonzalez (2025) orctapp “190 permits a person whose car is towed under ORS 819.120 to “request a hearing * * * to contest the validity of the towing and custody.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 819.120(9) — 1 case
Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems v. State of Oregon (2024) ord “§ 65- 16,130 (provision of state pharmacy act—which provides for civil fines of up to $5,000 for violations of the act or the rules promulgated by the state board of pharmacy—granting the board authority to impose requirements on certain pharmacies in the form of criteria that…”
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