Oregon Statutes 475.898 – Immunity from drug-related offenses for emergency medical assistance
(1) A person who contacts emergency medical services or a law enforcement agency to obtain medical assistance for another person who needs medical assistance due to a drug-related overdose is immune from arrest or prosecution for an offense listed in subsection (3) of this section if the evidence of the offense was obtained because the person contacted emergency medical services or a law enforcement agency.
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 475.898
- Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Person: includes individuals, corporations, associations, firms, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint stock companies. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
(2) A person who is in need of medical assistance due to a drug-related overdose is immune from arrest or prosecution for an offense listed in subsection (3) of this section if the evidence of the offense was obtained because any person contacted emergency medical services or a law enforcement agency to obtain medical assistance for the person.
(3) The immunity conferred under subsections (1) and (2) of this section applies to arrest and prosecution for:
(a) Frequenting a place where controlled substances are used as described in ORS § 167.222;
(b) Possession of a controlled substance as described in ORS § 475.752;
(c) Unlawful possession of hydrocodone as described in ORS § 475.814;
(d) Unlawful possession of methadone as described in ORS § 475.824;
(e) Unlawful possession of oxycodone as described in ORS § 475.834;
(f) Unlawful possession of heroin as described in ORS § 475.854;
(g) Unlawful possession of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine as described in ORS § 475.874;
(h) Unlawful possession of cocaine as described in ORS § 475.884;
(i) Unlawful possession of methamphetamine as described in ORS § 475.894;
(j) Unlawfully possessing a prescription drug as described in ORS § 689.527 (6); and
(k) Unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to sell or deliver as described in ORS § 475.525.
(4)(a) A person may not be arrested for violating, or found to be in violation of, the conditions of the person’s pretrial release, probation, post-prison supervision or parole if the violation involves:
(A) The possession or use of a controlled substance or frequenting a place where controlled substances are used; and
(B) The evidence of the violation was obtained because the person contacted emergency medical services or a law enforcement agency to obtain medical assistance for another person who needed medical assistance due to a drug-related overdose.
(b) A person may not be arrested for violating, or found to be in violation of, the conditions of the person’s pretrial release, probation, post-prison supervision or parole if the violation involves:
(A) The possession or use of a controlled substance or frequenting a place where controlled substances are used; and
(B) The evidence of the violation was obtained because the person was in need of medical assistance due to a drug-related overdose and any person contacted emergency medical services or a law enforcement agency to obtain medical assistance for the person.
(5)(a) A person may not be arrested on an outstanding warrant for any of the offenses listed in subsection (3) of this section, or on an outstanding warrant for a violation, other than commission of a new crime, of the conditions of the person’s probation, post-prison supervision or parole for conduct that would constitute an offense listed in subsection (3) of this section, if the location of the person was obtained because the person contacted emergency medical services or a law enforcement agency to obtain medical assistance for another person who needed medical assistance due to a drug-related overdose.
(b) A person may not be arrested on an outstanding warrant for any of the offenses listed in subsection (3) of this section, or on an outstanding warrant for a violation, other than commission of a new crime, of the conditions of the person’s probation, post-prison supervision or parole for conduct that would constitute an offense listed in subsection (3) of this section, if the location of the person was obtained because the person was in need of medical assistance due to a drug-related overdose and any person contacted emergency medical services or a law enforcement agency to obtain medical assistance for the person.
(c) This subsection does not apply to outstanding federal warrants or outstanding warrants issued from other states.
(6) The immunity from arrest and prosecution described in this section is not grounds for the suppression of evidence relating to a criminal offense other than the offenses listed in subsection (3) of this section.
(7) As used in this section:
(a) ‘Controlled substance’ has the meaning given that term in ORS § 475.005.
(b) ‘Drug-related overdose’ means an acute condition, including mania, hysteria, extreme physical illness, coma or death, resulting from the consumption or use of a controlled substance, or another substance with which a controlled substance was combined, that a person would reasonably believe to be a condition that requires medical attention. [2015 c.274 § 1; 2016 c.24 § 60; 2017 c.21 § 27]
475.898 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS Chapter 475 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.