January 8, 2025
Yesterday, taking a firm stance alongside TriMet and the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney Nathan Vasquez announced that as of January 1, 2025, drug use on public transit is a criminal offense. Senate Bill 1553, which was passed in the 2024 legislative session by Oregon lawmakers, modifies the crime of Interfering with Public Transportation to include the use of illegal drugs on transit vehicles. Now a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail, a $6,250 fine, or both, the offense is just one step below a felony and constitutes a more serious charge than if someone were caught doing drugs in other public spaces. Senate Bill 1553 joins House Bill 4002, which recriminalized the possession of small amounts of hard drugs starting on September 1, 2024 and now provides better direction on the prosecution of drug crimes that occur on public transit vehicles.
In his statement to the media, DA Vasquez said “If this law is broken, my office will prosecute it. Period. People that are using these controlled substances are releasing really a noxious and dangerous substance into a very oftentimes confined area, endangering people that have no desire to be anywhere near that, including children.” He also emphasized that due to the danger that drug use poses to other passengers, these cases will not be eligible for deflection. The District Attorney’s Office will seek treatment options for people who are convicted under this law and placed on probation.
DA Vasquez affirmed the office’s commitment to work closely with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office to make sure people are held accountable for illegal behavior on TriMet, including drug offenses.The new law supports TriMet’s safe transit zone concept, and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office is proud that the collaboration between has helped develop legal solutions to serious issues affecting the community. Moving forward, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office will work alongside the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, the Transit Police Division and our other local law enforcement partners as we prosecute drug offenses and other crimes. Collectively, these agencies will work to make sure our public transit systems can be a safe place for all.
DA Vasquez speaking to the media, backed by Sherriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell, Chief District Attorney’s Office Investigator Pete Simpson, and TriMet-focused Deputy District Attorney Julian Samuels