In Oregon, a person issued a violation citation generally must make a first appearance by the time shown on the summons, either by appearing in court or by following the allowed pretrial procedures. The law lets a defendant request a trial or enter a no contest plea in the ways described on the citation. For certain photo radar tickets, state statutes set additional response rules and timeframes.
Courts will set a trial date if a trial is requested or required. If notice of the trial is not waived, the court must give at least five days notice of the date, time and place. Photo radar citations include specific mailing and response rules that create a rebuttable presumption as to the registered owner and allow response by certificate of innocence or other lawful responses.
Current Oregon law
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The deadline that matters
Make a first appearance by the time indicated on the summons (or respond within 30 days for certain photo radar citations).
What Oregon law says
A defendant who is issued a violation citation must either make a first appearance by personally appearing in court at the time on the summons, or make a first appearance in the other ways listed in the statute, including submitting a written or oral request for a trial or entering a no contest plea as allowed, under Or. Rev. Stat. § 153.061. If a trial is requested or required, the court shall set a date, time and place for the trial under Or. Rev. Stat. § 153.070. Unless notice is waived, the court must provide notice of the date, time and place at least five days before the trial, and traffic citations must warn that failure to appear may risk suspension of driving privileges under Or. Rev. Stat. § 153.073. For speeding citations based on photo radar in highway work zones and in city photo radar systems, the statutes set conditions for issuing citations, create a rebuttable presumption that the registered owner was the driver, and allow specific responses such as a certificate of innocence within 30 days of mailing, see Or. Rev. Stat. § 810.442 and Or. Rev. Stat. § 810.444.
What to do
A common first step is to check the citation for the required first appearance date and the response options listed on the summons.
A common option is to submit a written or oral request for a trial before the time indicated, as allowed under Or. Rev. Stat. § 153.061.
A common step for photo radar citations is to consider responding by certificate of innocence within 30 days when that procedure applies under Or. Rev. Stat. § 810.442 or Or. Rev. Stat. § 810.444.
A common step is to watch for the court notice of trial, since the court must give at least five days notice of the date, time and place unless notice is waived under Or. Rev. Stat. § 153.073.
A common option is to use the court or authorized violations bureau procedures to enter a plea or make other permitted responses as described in Or. Rev. Stat. § 153.061.
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Common questions
Do I have to appear in court for every traffic ticket?
Generally, a defendant must make a first appearance by the time on the summons, either by appearing in court or by following the alternate first appearance methods listed in Or. Rev. Stat. § 153.061. Some photo radar citations have separate mail-response rules.
What if I want a trial?
If a trial is requested, the court shall set a date, time and place for the trial under Or. Rev. Stat. § 153.070. The court must provide notice at least five days before the trial unless notice is waived, under Or. Rev. Stat. § 153.073.
Are there special rules for photo radar tickets?
Yes. Photo radar citations in highway work zones and city photo radar systems have specific issuance and response rules, including a 30 day mail-response period and a rebuttable presumption regarding the registered owner, see Or. Rev. Stat. § 810.442 and Or. Rev. Stat. § 810.444.
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This page provides legal information only and not legal advice. CiteLaw is not a law firm and does not represent you. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.
