Dalton’s Law Gains Important Senate Support

Two other Senators—Avel Gordly, (I-Portland) and Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown, (D-Portland) have also signed on as co-sponsors.

Missing poster issued for Dalton Robertson

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregon State Representative Donna Nelson (R-McMinnville) is excited to see important Senate support for House Bill 3176, Dalton’s Law. House Bill 3176 would allow law enforcement officers to obtain vehicle location information from companies such as On-Star and LoJack to help find missing persons.

It is named in honor of the late Dalton Robertson, a friend of Representative Nelson, who tragically passed away in 2005 after disappearing in his brand new car equipped with an anti-theft vehicle-location device. Even though a missing persons report had been filed, police were unable to use the device to find the vehicle without the owner’s consent.

Dalton’s Law passed the Oregon House of Representatives unanimously. Now, several Senators have signed on as cosponsors for the bill as it moves through the Oregon Senate.

Senator Gary George (R-Newberg) said House Bill 3176 is “a great bill that will help law enforcement find missing persons while protecting important civil liberties—I can’t imagine anyone being opposed to it.” He is echoed by Senator Jason Atkinson (R-Central Point), who says he is “proud to support a bill that will save lives.” Senator Atkinson, noting the parallels to the recent tragedy of the Kim family, believes “using every available technology can make a difference between life and death.”

Two other Senators—Avel Gordly (I-Portland), the lone Independent in the Legislative Assembly, and Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown (D-Portland)—have also signed on as co-sponsors.

“I’m so honored to have such diverse support for this important bill,” said Representative Nelson. “This isn’t a partisan issue. This is a common-sense, life-saving issue.” J Graigory, Representative Nelson’s son and friend of Dalton Robertson, also stressed the non-partisan nature of the bill: “With the support of not just Republicans and Democrats, but also the Independent Senator Gordly, one can honestly say this bill has ‘tri-partisan’ support. Dalton’s Law transcends traditional partisan politics and demonstrates that legislators of all political stripes can work together to pass intelligent, life-saving laws.”