SALEM, Ore. -- Police will be allowed to detain students for upto a week for bringing guns to school under one of the hundreds ofnew state laws that go into effect Saturday.
Other new laws passed by Oregon's 1999 Legislature will suspendthe driver's licenses for students caught skipping school or buyingcigarettes and allow several cities to set up automatic cameras tocatch red-light runners.
Also, shoving a sports referee can bring an automatic $1,000fine, and teachers will be required to conduct the pledge ofallegiance in class at least once a week.
Legislators passed more than 1,000 new laws this year before theyended their session in late July. Most of the laws take effect 90days after adjournment, which is Oct. 23.
The gun detention law was passed by the Legislature in the wakeof Kip Kinkel's shooting spree at Thurston High School inSpringfield in May 1998.
It allows youths to be held for up to seven days forinvestigation and mental health screening for bringing a gun ordestructive device to school.
Kinkel had been caught with a gun in school but was released tohis father later the same day.
Police say Kinkel killed his parents then went to the high schoolthe next morning and shot up the school cafeteria. Kinkel pleadedguilty last month to four counts of murder and 26 counts ofattempted murder.
Springfield police Capt. Steve Swenson said such a law might haveprevented the shootings.
'We support the law because it takes it out of the officer'shands,' Swenson said. 'We no longer have to decide whether someonewill be sent home or put into juvenile detention.
'And we don't have to read their minds and decide whether they'llkill someone.'
Unseen eyes
On other fronts, drivers used to hot-footing it through stoplights will have unseen eyes watching them.
Portland, Beaverton, Bend and Medford will be able to set upcameras in a pilot program to catch red-light runners.
The cameras are triggered when a vehicle rolls over sensors inthe pavement after a light turns red. Offenders will get citationsin the mail, similar to the process by which several cities now usephoto radar cameras to nab speeders.
Some of the laws passed by the Legislature have later effectivedates to allow more time to put new programs into place.
An example is one that takes effect next March that places limitson when new teen-age drivers can drive and how many passengers theycan have in their vehicle.
But young drivers also will face new restrictions under laws thatgo on the books Saturday.
People under 18 could lose their driving privileges for as longas a year if they are caught a second time lying about their age tobuy cigarettes.
Another new law gives school districts authority to have driverlicenses suspended of students who repeatedly skip school.
The law contains exceptions for students in home schooling or whoattend a high school equivalency program or community college.
Students first applying for driver licenses can be required, atthe school district's option, to show proof they have been attendingclass.
On a related front, another new law going into effect wouldprevent drivers of any age from renewing licenses if they have toomany unpaid parking tickets.
Lawmakers also took a couple of new steps to discourage drunkendriving.
Motorists charged twice with driving under the influence ofalcohol could forced to forfeit their vehicles under a law aimed atcreating statewide uniformity on the matter.
Some cities have adopted ordinances allowing for forfeitures,while others have been reluctant to move without clear stateauthority.
Motorists who drive drunk or without insurance will be barredfrom suing other drivers in accidents for 'pain and suffering'damages.
Intoxicated drivers and those lacking insurance still could seekcompensation for actual economic loss, such as property damage ormedical bills, from drivers causing the accidents.
Backers of the referee attack measure argued that physical andother harassment of sports referees has been on the rise and thatthe law would send a strong message.
If referees can prove they are subjected to 'offensive physicalcontact' shoving, slapping or grabbing they will be entitled tocollect an automatic $1,000 damage award plus lawyers' fees from theoffenders.
No solicitation
Phone customers weary of the ringing of solicitors will like onenew law that's intended to provide them with an additional escape.
The state will set up a database of people who don't wantsolicitations.
Marketers will be required to check the list and will beprohibited from calling people on it.
Phone customers now can pay to have anti-solicitation black dotsby their names in phone books. But many solicitors buy lists fromcommercial enterprises that compile them.
The new pledge of allegiance law was passed by the Legislatureafter a supporter said the flag salute teaches students importantlessons about patriotism, commitment and respect.
The law has already had an unanticipated effect a flag shortage.
The state Republican Party is coming to the rescue, raising fundswith a goal of generating $10,000 to buy flags for schools.
Darryl Howard, state GOP executive director, said the partyalready has requests for more than 3,000 flags.
NEW LAWS AT A GLANCE
Among hundreds of new state laws taking effect Saturday are onesto:
* Impose a mandatory $1,000 fine for shoving around or otherwisephysically harassing a sports referee.
* Permit suspension of driving privileges of minors who attempttwice to illegally buy cigarettes by misrepresenting their ages.
* Allow school districts to suspend driver licenses of studentswho repeatedly skip school.
* Create statewide authority for cities to require driverscharged twice with drunken driving to forfeit their cars.
* Require teachers to conduct the pledge of allegiance in classat least once a week.
* Establish a statewide directory of people who don't want phonesolicitations, forbid solicitors from calling people on the list.
* Permit pilot projects in Portland, Beaverton, Bend and Medfordusing cameras to catch red-light runners.
* Make phonics reading materials available to all teachers inkindergarten through second grade.
* Allow police to hold students for up to a week for evaluationsif they bring guns to school.
* Require 24 hours of training every two years on such things asCPR, food handling and detecting abuse for the state's 10,500 family-run child care businesses.
* Prohibit motorists who drive drunk or without insurance fromsuing other drivers in accidents for 'pain and suffering' damages;they still could sue drivers who were at fault for compensation foractual economic losses.
* Adopt standard methods for public access to records of statehealth-related licensing boards.
* Move Oregon's presidential primary election from March to May.
* Give the state Department of Forestry authority to bar loggingon hillsides when public safety is at risk and to adopt rules todiscourage people from building houses on property that could beburied in a landslide.
* Outlaw improper disposal of human waste, such as tossing urine-filled bottles from vehicles, with fines up to $2,500 and potentiallicense suspension for commercial drivers.
* Authorize cities to have driver license renewals delayed untilunpaid local parking tickets are paid.
* Require health insurers to provide maternity coverage fordependent daughters of women policyholders.
* Modify assisted suicide law to permit hospitals to forbiddoctors from assisting suicides in their facilities.
* Protect businesses from liability for Y2K problems as long asthey have made good faith efforts to deal with changes.
