Relating to memorial highways.
The enactment of SB 478 serves as a formal acknowledgment from the state of Oregon of the risks faced by law enforcement officers and their dedication to serving the public. By designating this segment of highway as a memorial, it reiterates the importance of honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The bill is structured to ensure that this designation does not alter existing highway designations or necessitate updates to maps, thereby providing a straightforward recognition of the deputies without impacting travel or logistics on the highway.
Senate Bill 478 establishes a portion of Oregon Highway 82 as the Deputy Raymond Williams and Deputy Michael Cheney Memorial Highway. This designation honors the two deputies who tragically lost their lives in the line of duty on November 5, 1980, during a search and rescue mission. While traveling south on the highway, they were involved in a fatal accident with a driver impaired by alcohol. The bill recognizes not only their sacrifice but also pays tribute to the families they left behind.
The bill does not appear to have significant points of contention as it is primarily a memorialization effort rather than a contentious legislative reform. However, discussions surrounding such memorial designations sometimes raise considerations about state resources and priorities. In this case, it is explicitly mentioned that public funds will not be used for the installation and maintenance of the memorial markers, which helps to ensure that the bill garners broader support by addressing potential budget concerns.