Slowly but surely, Portland is changing its tune when it comes to enforcement of driving rules and behaviors. In just a few short years we’ve gone from a frosty relationship between the Portland police and transportation bureaus, to a shift in tone that seeks to send a clear message to drivers that if you don’t follow laws, the City of Portland is “coming for you.”
The latest evidence of this trend toward addressing driver lawlessness was an enforcement mission conducted by the Portland Police Bureau yesterday. The mission was targeted at, ghost cars, vehicles whose owners have purposely removed license plates to obscure their identity. Not having plates is a very dangerous violation for many reasons. Most people think it’s done to avoid automated enforcement cameras and/or having the plate number easily run by a police officer. Those are very serious concerns. In addition, when people are victimized by a driver who doesn’t have a license plate, it is almost impossible to identify the perpetrator and seek justice.
That’s why I was heartened to learn that the Portland Police Bureau did a “no plate vehicle mission” yesterday. According to the PPB, the mission came in response to community concerns. “In addition,” PPB wrote in a statement. “PPB has found that often times vehicles without plates are either stolen, used in the commission of a crime, or connected to other crimes.”
In a partnership with Central Precinct’s Neighborhood Response Team and the Bike Squad, a total of 12 stops were made in downtown and the central eastside. Of those 12 stops, two people were arrested and eight citations were issues. Five of the vehicles were towed and officers recovered two stolen cars and two stolen bicycles. That’s a pretty high rate of return on just 12 stops and it underscores how widespread this problem is.
PBOT will never reach Vision Zero without a big change in driving culture. More enforcement of traffic laws is an essential part of that culture change. They need to not only do the enforcement, but publicize it at every opportunity so that more Portlanders get the message that they need to operate their vehicles safely and according to the law.
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Reading “no plates mission” that was being staffed by the Central Precinct Team and the Bike Squad evokes blanket campaign that would send a strong public signal. Hearing that they only made 12 stops was astonishing- I had to re-read it to see if I missed something. That said, I agree that they made the most of those 12 stops!
Good job, Portland police! I hope this isn’t a one off thing. I see missing plates, defaced plates, and opaque license plate covers on a daily basis. This is going to need to be a routine policing activity if we’re ever going to see significant results.
Yeah, 12 in one day isn’t even a drop in the bucket. I see more than that every day just during my 20-minute walk to work. But, as they say, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. PPD (
PortlandPerformative Police Department) has historically only done enforcement efforts like this as one-off publicity stunts (often thankfully, like their stupid once-a-decade 4-hour Ladd stings, etc.). However, given the impressive return (five tows in just 12 stops!) maybe someone over there will pull their heads out and do a few more of these, though I’m not holding my breath.Yes, thank you PPB!
“PPB has found that often times vehicles without plates are either stolen, used in the commission of a crime, or connected to other crimes.”
I’m glad they put their best detectives on this to figure that one out.
John,
Did you know there is only ONE full time property crime detective for the ENTIRE city of Portland? No joke.
SOURCE: Terri Wallo-Strauss, PPB Strategic Communications Unit
We need MORE of this. Thank you PPB! Glad no one has called the officers racists (yet) for cleaning up our streets of these scofflaws. .
I guess it’s asking too much for cops that are BOTH non-racist AND willing to do thier jobs. We only get one or the other, apparently.
They’re calling it “NO PLATE WEDNESDAYS”. Check out the PPB Bike Central Instagram feed, 21K followers. Several no plate stops had outstanding warrants. https://www.instagram.com/PPBCentralBikeSquad/
Well kudos to the ppb…..you undoubtedly made 5 ppl who couldn’t afford to license (their home or their only way to get to work or look f or work) in the democratic bloodbath of an economy…..and yet they still bitch about homelessness……that’s rich.
Please cruise N Columbia Blvd/Lombard/Kenton area. I see cars all the time up here without plates. Definitely more than 12 cars over here.