Paying or Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Oregon

Most violation citations can be resolved online through OJD Courts ePay before the appearance date and time on the citation; doing so enters a no contest plea and waives the right to a trial. Eligible violations may be offered a fine reduction online. ePay cannot be used to plead not guilty or request a trial, for citations marked as requiring a court appearance (such as speeding over 100 mph or careless driving), or when the officer did not write a fine amount. A citation can take 10-15 days to appear in ePay. To contest, the person contacts the court listed on the citation.

For tickets that list an Oregon circuit court, use the Oregon Judicial Department's OJD Courts ePay / Electronic Central Violations Bureau (eCVB) to see whether you qualify for a reduced fine (up to 50 percent, depending on the violation and your driving record) and pay online. A reduction requires a No Contest plea, and a No Contest conviction still goes on your driving record. If you want a trial, plead not guilty, or send a letter of explanation, do not use ePay; follow the citation's instructions or contact the court. Tickets from municipal/city courts or justice courts must be handled with those courts directly.

The official pages read do not describe a statewide traffic school that dismisses tickets or removes points (Oregon has no points). For a first conviction of driving while using a mobile electronic device, the court may suspend the fine if the person completes an ODOT-approved distracted driving avoidance course within 120 days of sentencing and gives the court proof.

Grounds include the Driver Improvement Program, habitual-offender revocation (five years), DUII convictions, implied consent (test refusal or failure), and failure to appear in an Oregon court. A failure-to-appear suspension lasts until the court sends proof of clearance or ten years from the offense, whichever is earlier. Oregon courts no longer request suspensions for failure to comply (failure to pay); that type was repealed for suspensions after Oct. 1, 2020. Some unpaid fines tied to these suspensions were remitted by governors' orders.