Oregon Drivers Could Get Millions in Fines Back if Medford Yellow Light Lawsuit Succeeds, Attorney Says

Oregon municipalities may have to repay millions of dollars in traffic fines if a lawsuit against Medford City is successful.

A class action lawsuit alleges that the yellow lights at the intersection of Barnett Road and East Stewart Avenue do not give motorists enough time to cross legally.

Chiropractor Claims that Medford’s Yellow Light Intervals are Illegal

The lawsuit has been filed by chiropractor Glenn Gumaer, who is challenging the legality of the city’s camera enforcement program, arguing that yellow light intervals are illegally short.

Gumaer’s attorney, William Smith, says a rerun of the video of his client at the crossing showed the yellow light turning off after three seconds, and the previous light he crossed remained on for only five seconds.

According to Smith, municipalities across Oregon may have to repay motorists traffic fines of millions of dollars if the yellow light class action lawsuit is successful.

Yellow Lights Should Remain On For at Least Six Seconds

Gumaer claims that under a new formula set by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), the yellow light should have remained on for at least six seconds.

According to Oregon law, yellow lights at camera enforced intersections must show for at least the length recommended by the ITE standard.

However, Medford argues that the new recommendation by the ITE is only one of several options, and that it remains acceptable to use the old formula.

Oregon’s Current Yellow Light Standards

For traffic signals on state highways, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has set a minimum yellow change interval at 3.5 seconds, and a maximum yellow change at 5 seconds.

The agency will consider updating these intervals once a study by ITE and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) to change the intervals is finalized.

Judge David J. Orr of the Multnomah District Circuit Court rejected Medford’s request to end the case at summary judgment. He has not ruled that the city’s signals are unlawful, and the order had not yet been formally filed when this article was published.