OregonFormer vehicle owners may avoid court for certain traffic citations
Starting January 1, 2027, eligible people cited over a vehicle they transferred may avoid a first court appearance by notifying the court within 30 days.
What it does
Starting January 1, 2027, a former vehicle owner may avoid a first court appearance by reporting a prior transfer within 30 days and meeting the law's liability requirements. The court must dismiss the citation if it finds the person is exempt.
Argument forEligible former owners could avoid a court appearance, and the court must dismiss the citation if it finds they are exempt from liability.
Argument againstA former owner who misses the 30-day deadline or cannot meet the statement requirements may still have to appear in court.
More detail
A person may skip a first court appearance by notifying the court about a prior vehicle transfer and submitting a sworn statement. This applies to a person cited for a traffic violation involving a vehicle in which they had already transferred their interest. The statement must say the citation concerns another person's parking, abandoning, or operation of the vehicle; the transfer happened before the citation; the person sent the required transfer notice to the Department of Transportation; and the person is exempt from liability under ORS 803.117. The court must dismiss the citation if it determines the person is exempt from liability. The rule applies to conduct on or after January 1, 2027. The person must notify the court within 30 days after the citation is issued.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 6Chapter 65, (2026 Laws): Effective date January 1, 2027.Latest
- Mar 31Governor Tina Kotek signed.Became Law
- Mar 5President signed.Major
- Mar 4Speaker signed.Major
- Mar 3Third reading. Carried by Gelser Blouin. Passed.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Third reading. Carried by Gelser Blouin. Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 2Carried over to 03-03 by unanimous consent.
- Feb 27Second reading.Minor
- Feb 27Recommendation: Do pass the A-Eng. bill.Minor
- Feb 25Work Session held.
- Vote recorded Heard and Reported Out. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 23Public Hearing held.
- Feb 20Referred to Judiciary.Minor
- Vote recorded Third reading. Carried by Cate. Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 20First reading. Referred to President's desk.Minor
- Feb 20Third reading. Carried by Cate. Passed.Passed House
- Feb 19Second reading.Minor
- Feb 18Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed A-Engrossed.Minor
- Feb 16Work Session held.
- Vote recorded Heard and Reported Out with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Public Hearing held.
- Feb 2Referred to Judiciary.Minor
- Feb 2First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.Introduced
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