What Are Traffic Violations And Infractions In Oregon?

Traffic violations and traffic crimes in Oregon State refer to offenses committed by road users when they break traffic laws. Depending on the type of offense, the Oregon Judicial Department gives the Municipal Court and Circuit Court jurisdiction over traffic-related cases.

Traffic violations in Oregon are only punishable by fine and do not involve a compulsory court appearance. However, a traffic crime is any traffic-related offense that attracts a penalty involving imprisonment. Depending on the punishment, a traffic crime can be a misdemeanor or felony conviction.

What Are Felony Traffic Violations In Oregon?

Felony traffic crimes in Oregon are punishable by not less than a year of incarceration. Typically, felony traffic offenses cause severe bodily injuries, death, or property damages.

Punishments for felony crimes depend on the severity of the offense. The classifications of a felony in Oregon are:

• Class A: A maximum possible jail sentence of 20 years and a maximum possible fine of $375,000
• Class B: Offenders may face up to 10 years imprisonment and a maximum potential fine of $250,000
• Class C: This category carries a potential jail sentence of up to 5 years and a possible fine of no more than $125,000

Some misdemeanor violations that are repeated by offenders may become a felony offense. Most felony traffic crimes in Oregon fall under Class C.

Examples Of Felony Traffic Violations In Oregon

Felony traffic crimes in Oregon State include:

• Third-offense DUI (Class C felony)
• Hit-and-run accidents involving injury (Class C felony)
• Organizing a racing event (Class C felony)
• Criminal driving with a suspended or revoked license (Class B felony)

What Are Traffic Misdemeanors In Oregon?

In Oregon, persons convicted of traffic misdemeanors are liable to at most a year of incarceration and payment of fines. Compared to felonies, misdemeanors carry a lighter penalty, and the court may treat some traffic misdemeanors as infractions.

While the penalty of a traffic misdemeanor is attached to the offense, the state laws classify them into three categories:

• Class A Misdemeanor: Punishable by a potential maximum of a year imprisonment and a possible fine of up to $6250
• Class B Misdemeanor: It carries a possible maximum jail sentence of 6 months and a fine of up to $2500
• Class C Misdemeanor: Offenders can face a possible jail term of 30 days and pay a fine of no more than $1250

The court may also order offenders to attend mandatory driving programs to get their license back if suspended or revoked.

Examples Of Traffic Misdemeanors In Oregon

Traffic misdemeanor offenses in Oregon include:

• First-offense DUI (Class A Misdemeanor)
• Reckless Driving (Class A Misdemeanor)
• Eluding a law enforcement officer (Class A Misdemeanor)
• Driving without a valid license

What Constitutes A Traffic Infraction In Oregon?

Traffic infractions in Oregon are less severe traffic offenses that are only punishable by payment of fines. Persons guilty of an infraction don’t have to make a court appearance. In Oregon State, infractions are officially known as traffic violations. There are four categories of traffic violations with specified fines:

• Class A violation: Punishable by a minimum fine of $220 and a maximum of $2000. The presumptive fine is $435.
• Class B violation: The court can fine offenders a sum of $130 to $1000 or a presumptive fine of $260.
• Class C violation: This violation carries a penalty of the maximum fine of $500, to a minimum of $80, and is usually presumed at $160.
• Class D violation: A class D violation is punishable by a fine of $60 to $25. The more likely fee is a sum of $110.

Examples Of Traffic Infractions In Oregon?

Some examples of infractions that are traffic violations in Oregon are:

• Driving 30 mph above the speed limit (Class A violation)
• Violation of driving with a suspended or revoked license (Class A violation)
• Failure to obey a traffic control device (Class B violation)
• Use of marijuana items while in a motor vehicle (Class B violation)
• Following a vehicle too closely (Class B violation)
• Illegal U-turn (Class C violation/Class B violation if it leads to an accident)
• Not yielding the right of way at a roundabout (Class C violation)
• Entering an intersection wrongly (Class D violation)
• Driving 10 mph above the speed limit (Class D violation)

How Do Traffic Tickets Work In Oregon?

Traffic tickets are official documents that law officers issue to road users for the violation of traffic laws. Individuals who receive traffic tickets in Oregon are required to resolve them. Typically, offenders may enter a plea of guilt for the traffic violation and pay off the required fines. They can also contest the ticket in court by pleading not guilty and having a trial set up.

Road users may get traffic tickets for offenses done while in motion, such as speeding or non-moving violations like illegal parking.

The Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services (DMV) doesn’t use the driving point system to track traffic violations. However, the DMV tracks the number of traffic tickets issued to motorists, and the accumulation of many tickets may lead to the suspension or revocation of license. The court may also order traffic offenders to participate in a driver improvement program. The DMV restricts the license of Individuals issued three tickets or involved in 3 accidents, in any combination, within 18 months. Such persons are not permitted to drive between midnight and 5 a.m. An accumulation of 4 traffic tickets or three accidents, in any combination, within 24 months may result in a 30-day suspension of the offender’s license.

The DMV can suspend or revoke motorists’ licenses under the age of 18 if they fail to follow the temporary license restrictions. The restriction of license penalizes an accumulation of 2 traffic convictions or 2 accidents or a combination of both for 90 days.

Are Traffic/Driving Records Public In Oregon?

Oregon driving and traffic records are available to the public for copying and inspection. Section 802.220 of the Oregon Revised Statutes authorizes public access to records concerning motor vehicles. Interested persons may request for desired records from the department. However, the custodian of records cannot disseminate personal information such as photographs and fingerprints on driving or traffic records. Records sealed on a court’s order are confidential and only accessible to authorized persons.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. Operating independently of any government agency, these websites often make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties may need to provide one or all of the following:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile.
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that a person resides in or was accused of.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources, and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

How To Find Traffic/Driving Records In Oregon?

The Oregon Department of Transportation maintains and disseminates driving records and traffic-related reports within the state’s jurisdiction. Individuals looking to obtain driving records may fill out the DMV request form and submit it in person at the office location or via mail. The DMV may charge for the request of records following the fee schedule. Requestors may address their requests to:

DMV Records Services
1905 Lana Ave NE,
Salem OR 97314

Requesters with questions regarding the DMV form may call the records services at (503) 945–5475.

Can Traffic Violation And Infractions Be Expunged/Sealed In Oregon?

When a traffic violation is expunged/sealed in Oregon, it becomes unavailable for public view. Typically, a party can petition the court to seal or expunge records if they qualify. However, Oregon laws don’t permit the expunction of class A and class B felony offenses. While most misdemeanor offenses and class C felony crimes are eligible for expunction, traffic offenses are ineligible for expunction under Section 137.225.