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New traffic laws are highlighted at the Oregonian and at the DMV (see their other press releases here). Old and new traffic laws here and here and here.

And here’s a traffic rule NO ONE in Portland seems to know, except for those drivers from countries where one is expected to know the Roundabout Rules (and to learn how to drive, and park, before getting a license) (e.g. UK):

When exiting a roundabout (aka traffic circle), “ALWAYS INDICATE YOUR EXIT [from the circle] USING YOUR RIGHT TURN SIGNAL.” See pages 50-51 of the Oregon Driver Manual.

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This doesn’t look like much, but it is! And I’ve already used it to answer someone’s reference question because it was quicker to use than digging through the state’s databases directly.

State Agency Databases

And it even answers the age-old non-librarian question: What is a database?

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Reminder: On January 1, 2008, the Oregon Small Claims limit rises to $7,500 (from $5,000). See my previous posting.

The 2007 Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) laws on Small Claims courts (both Justice Court and Circuit Court) will be available at the Legislature’s web page soon.

County Circuit Courts manage their own Small Claims Departments so you should contact the court where you will be filing your case and ask about local procedures and forms. Not every county has a Justice Court, but each county has a Circuit Court (36 counties are served by 27 judicial districts)

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We (meaning my stupendous library assistants and I) have finally released a copy of our How to Find a Lawyer in Oregon – in 6 Easy Steps. (If this direct link to the PDF doesn’t work, try from my library’s hompage, and click on the Legal Research Resources Overview tab.)

This guide started out around 3 pages and we cut, and cut, and cut (no one wants to read 3 pages on finding a lawyer!), so maybe it is too bare bones now. But give it a try and send along suggestions we’ll consider for a future update.

And for Washington County residents (lots of Mult Co listings too), the 2008 Community Action Find guide is out too. You can search it online at their excellent database, but my library and others keep a print copy handy. It is a fabulous resource and complement to our How to Find a Lawyer guide.

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This post is primarily for reference purposes (mine!): One day, in about 8.17 months, someone’s going to ask for the names of these cases, “you now, those cocaine sentencing cases from a year or two ago” and I’ll say, “we can search the OLR blog for a quick answer.”

Gall v. United States
Decided: 12/10/2007
No: 06-7949

Kimbrough v United States
Decided: 12/10/07
No. 06-6330

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The Willamette Week (12/12/07 issue) article by Nigel Jaquiss, “Space Odyssey: New law limits disabled parking benefits for drivers not in wheelchairs,” describes the new law, SB 716, that goes into effect January 1st, 2008. (The 2007 ORS will be here in a few weeks.)

Excerpt from the Willamette Week story:

“A new state law set to take effect Jan. 1 has advocates for Portland’s disabled drivers in an uproar.

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Many but not all Oregon attorneys know about the terrific 3 volume set of Will and Trust Forms (Oregon Version), compiled by Joseph J. Hanna, Jr. and Campbell Richardson and published by the US Bank Private Client Group.

Rumors have been swirling that there is a 2006 edition, but upon inquiry we were informed that this is incorrect and the 2003 edition is still the latest one. (In 2006 I was told no update was in the works so a new edition is still likely a ways off.)

This is good news for most of us. The set is not cheap (but is excellent value) and must still have a good and long life ahead in its current form. Some changes may have occurred in filing requirements, so don’t forget to check the OSB practice and course materials, the statutes (the 2007s expected within a few weeks), and (of course) the court where you are filing to make you are using the correct forms.

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Good heavens, what next? A non-jurisprurient U.S. Supreme Court book that will possibly become a best-seller, at least among the wonkish: legal, political, librarian, and chattering all.

Thanks to Law Librarian Blog for the link to the law dot com (Legal Times, 11/27) story, “Scalia to Join Supreme Court Book Club.”

Excerpt from the article:

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The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) alerts us to new reports, but you can get them yourself hot off the press.

Visit their What’s New at BJS site and read this one, Medical Causes of Death in State Prisons, 2001-2004, and its press release, “Death Rates Lower in State Prisons than in the General Population.”

Thank you to the Law Librarian blog for the link.

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