Oregon Traffic Laws



Information on Oregon traffic laws and Oregon driving laws...

Traffic Violations

A traffic violation offense occurs whenever you get a ticket for violating almost any rule of the road or driver licensing, registration or vehicle equipment laws. If you plead guilty, no contest, or if a judge convicts you, in accordance wity Oregon traffic laws you will be required to pay a fine.

Traffic Crimes

The act of breaking some traffic laws is so serious that you will be charged with traffic crimes. The punishment for violating a traffic crime includes a jail sentence.

Under Oregon traffic laws, you do not need to be driving on a public highway to be charged with a traffic crime. You also may be charged in areas or premises open to the general public for use of motor vehicles, such as parking lots on either public or private property. You also may be charged with these offenses in some off-road areas.

Driving while under the influence of intoxicants, failure to perform the duties of a driver, reckless driving, fleeing or trying to elude a police officer, and some driving while suspended or revoked charges, are traffic crimes.

Examples of traffic crimes are:

  • driving while under the influence of intoxicants;
  • failure to perform the duties of a driver involved in an accident;
  • reckless driving;
  • fleeing or trying to elude a police officer; and
  • some driving while suspended or revoked charges.


License Suspensions and Revocations

If your driving privileges are suspended or revoked by a judge, you may get a suspension or revocation order in court. The court will confiscate your driver license and return it to DMV.

If your driving privileges are suspended or revoked by Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division (DMV), the DMV will send a notice to the address on your driving record. If you have a license in your possession, you must return it to a DMV office when the suspension begins.

You may not drive any motor vehicle on highways or premises open to the public after the suspension or revocation begins.

Oregon's Driver Improvement Program

The Driver Improvement Program's purpose is to promote traffic safety, especially the reduction of traffic convictions and accidents. The program is designed for both provisional (under 18 years old) and adult drivers.

For Provisional Drivers (Under 18 Years Old)

If you have two convictions, or two accidents, or a combination of one and one accident, DMV will restrict your driving privileges for three months to drive only for work purposes. During the three-month restriction, you may not drive with passengers except your parent, step-parent or guardian. These restrictions are in addition to the restrictions placed on a driver in the first year of a provisional license.

If you get another conviction or accident, DMV will suspend your driving privileges for six months, even if you turn 18 years of age during the suspension period.

For Drivers Over 18 Years of Age

If you have three convictions, or three accidents, or a combination that equals three, in an 18-month period, DMV will restrict your driving privileges for thirty days. The restriction will not allow you drive between 12 midnight and 5 a.m., unless driving for work purposes.

Under Oregon traffic laws, if you have four convictions or four accidents, or a combination that equals four, in a 24-month period, DMV will suspend your driving privileges for thirty days.

Reinstatement Fee

Under Oregon traffic laws, there is a $75 reinstatement fee to restore driving privileges that have been revoked or suspended for violations of Oregon driving laws.

For more information on Oregon traffic laws, please visit the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division.

If you found this Oregon traffic laws page to be helpful,
please share this page with others: