Oregon Statutes 756.160 – Enforcement of statutes and ordinances relating to utilities
(1) The Public Utility Commission shall inquire into any neglect or violation of any law of this state or any law or ordinance of any municipality thereof relating to public utilities and telecommunications utilities by any public utility or telecommunications utility doing business therein, its officers, agents or employees and shall enforce all laws of this state relating to public utilities and telecommunications utilities and may enforce all such laws and ordinances of a municipality. The commission shall report all violations of any such laws or ordinances to the Attorney General.
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 756.160
- City: includes any incorporated village or town. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(2) The Attorney General, district attorney of each county, all state, county and city police officers and police officers commissioned by a university under ORS § 352.121 or 353.125 shall assist the commission in the administration and enforcement of all laws administered by the commission, and they, as well as assistants and employees of the commission, shall inform against and diligently prosecute all persons whom they have reasonable cause to believe guilty of violation of any such laws or of the rules, regulations, orders, decisions or requirements of the commission made pursuant thereto.
(3) Upon the request of the commission, the Attorney General or the district attorney of the proper county shall aid in any investigation, hearing or trial, and shall institute and prosecute all necessary suits, actions or proceedings for the enforcement of those laws and ordinances referred to in subsection (1) of this section.
(4) Any forfeiture or penalty provided for in any law administered by the commission shall be recovered by an action brought thereon in the name of the State of Oregon in any court of appropriate jurisdiction. [Amended by 1971 c.655 § 23; 1973 c.776 § 24; 1987 c.447 § 84; 1995 c.733 § 61; 2011 c.506 § 46; 2013 c.180 § 51]
[Repealed by 1971 c.655 § 250]