Oregon Driving Records

Think of your Oregon driving record as a personal road diary, except it is kept by the state and read by insurers, employers, and sometimes even judges. Every speeding ticket, license suspension, or court verdict leaves a mark, painting a picture of your life on the road.

But it is not just about documenting your activities and behaviors as a driver. It is a tool that may significantly influence insurance premiums, job opportunities, and legal outcomes.

And while the open road may feel the same across state lines, each state, including Oregon, keeps its own version of this record, shaped by unique laws and agency rules that determine what gets recorded and for how long.

What Is an Oregon Driving Record?

An Oregon driving record, formally known as a motor vehicle record (MVR), is generally a comprehensive summary of a motorist's legal driving history, not just a list of violations.

Maintained by the Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division (DMV) under the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), it functions as a legal snapshot of a motorist's driving life in the state. From license status to convictions, suspensions, and administrative actions, this record reflects how typically responsibly a person has navigated Oregon's roads.

What Is The Difference Between Official MVRs and Public Driving Records

Official MVRs, provided directly by the Oregon DMV, are structured and formatted according to strict legal standards, delivering a detailed, standardized account of a driver's history. These records are ideal for formal uses, such as court cases or employment screenings.

However, public driving records from third-party services like RecordsFinder typically offer more flexible data formats. Third-party services may provide summaries, customized reports, or bulk data for multiple drivers, making them convenient for businesses or personal use.

While these records may lack the official certification of MVRs, their adaptability and quick access give them an edge in non-legal contexts.

Why Would You Need a Driving Record?

An Oregon driving record may serve various purposes, including:

• Insurance Reviews: In Oregon, insurance companies review your driving history to set premiums or investigate claims. Recent violations or accidents may increase rates, while a clean record may qualify you for discounts.
• Legal Obligations: Oregon courts may require a certified driving record to assess eligibility for diversion programs, hardship permits, or reinstatement following serious traffic offenses.
• Vehicle-for-Hire Permit: Cities like Portland mandate a driving history check for individuals applying for a vehicle-for-hire permit, as outlined in Portland City Code Chapter 16.40.170.
• Accuracy Monitoring: Mistakes may lead to insurance rate increases or wrongful license actions. Reviewing your Oregon driving history report typically ensures that all entries reflect actual events.

What Information Is Included in a Driver Report?

The following information may be found on Oregon driver reports:

• Personal information
• Driver's license information (license type, number, issue and expiration dates, restrictions, and endorsements)
• Major and minor traffic offense convictions
• Accidents
• License suspensions, revocations, and cancellations
• Diversion agreements
• Alcohol rehabilitation details
• Commercial driver's license (CDL) certification and qualifications

Types of Driver Records Available in Oregon

Below are the different types of Oregon driver records:

• Certified Court Print: This record provides a 10-year history of major traffic convictions, CDL entries, and alcohol rehabilitation or diversion agreements. It may also include a 5-year record of minor violations, crashes, suspensions, administrative actions, and some out-of-state commercial driver license entries.
• Employment Driving Record: This driver report documents employment-related traffic incidents and violations from the past three years, including any accidents or convictions that occurred while the driver was performing job-related duties.
• Non-Employment Driving Record: The driving history outlines the past three years' accidents, convictions, and administrative actions. It excludes employment-related incidents but may include certain CDL entries and out-of-state violations.
• Open-Ended Non-Employment Driving Record: This record typically contains the same details as a non-employment record but covers more than three years. Insurers typically use it only to determine eligibility for insurance discounts.
• License Information: This driving record, available to DMV Record Inquiry Account holders, shows the driver's full name, address, license number, date of birth, license type, and both issue and expiration dates.

Traffic Violations and Tickets in Oregon

In Oregon, traffic violations are civil or criminal offenses that occur when motorists break traffic laws. State law authorizes law enforcement officers to issue traffic tickets, also known as citations, for violations or traffic-related crimes observed within their jurisdiction.

Depending on the nature and location of the offense, these tickets are processed through municipal, circuit, or justice courts.

Common Types of Traffic Violations

Oregon classifies traffic offenses into moving and non-moving violations.

Moving violations, such as speeding, reckless driving, and drunk driving, are considered more severe due to higher risks of accidents and fatalities. Conversely, non-moving violations are less risky and typically do not appear on an offender's record.

Moving Violations

• Speeding: Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Section 811.100 prohibits driving at speeds unsafe for road, traffic, or weather conditions, while absolute limits (ORS Section 811.111) establish fixed maximum speeds. Fines range from $115 to $1,150, increasing with the number of miles over the limit. Excessive speeding may lead to license suspension, and fatal cases may result in reckless driving or vehicular homicide charges.
• Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Under ORS Section 813.010, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher within two hours of driving or while impaired by inhalants, cannabis, controlled substances, or psilocybin. Penalties may include jail time ranging from 48 hours to 5 years, fines between $1,000 and $125,000, and license suspension from 1 year to permanent. Offenders may be required to use an ignition interlock device (IID) for 1 to 5 years, complete substance abuse treatment, attend a Victim Impact Panel,and serve up to 5 years of probation.

Non-Moving Violations

• Driving with a Suspended License: If you drive with a suspended license in Oregon, you could face fines up to $6,250, jail time, and an extended suspension. Penalties are harsher if the suspension resulted from DUI, reckless driving, or evading police.
• Parking Violations: In Oregon, overtime parking may result in a $25 fine, while parking in a space designated for people with disabilities may lead to a $450 fine. Other penalties may involve towing, impoundment, and increased fines for repeated violations.

What to Do When You Get a Traffic Ticket

As per ORS Section 810.436, alleged offenders must respond to a traffic citation within 10 business days. When responding to a traffic citation in Oregon, you may do the following:

• Settle the Fine: If you receive a speeding ticket, you may pay the fine in municipal, circuit, or justice court online, by mail, or in person. Circuit court tickets may be paid using the Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) Courts ePay portal.
• Challenge the Citation: Motorists challenging a ticket must appear at the courthouse listed on the citation and enter a plea. After the arraignment, the court will schedule a hearing. A judge hears violations, while a jury decides traffic crimes. Curious about how to contest a ticket in Oregon without going to trial? This may be done by completing a written declaration, such as the Trial by Declaration form from the Multnomah County Circuit Court.
• Ask for a Mitigation Hearing: If you believe the violation occurred under exceptional or considerable circumstances, you may ask the court to reduce the penalty or arrange a payment plan.

When dealing with a traffic ticket, securing a copy of your Oregon driving record is strongly advised. This generally ensures all information related to your citation is accurately documented.

If you have lost a ticket, contact the appropriate court to assist you in recovering lost tickets. You may need to provide your name, driver's license number, or license plate number to the court registry.

How Does the Oregon Point System Work?

Oregon does not use a point system to track traffic violations. Rather than assigning points, Oregon focuses on patterns of unsafe driving to determine when to restrict, suspend, or revoke driving privileges.

The state enforces the Driver Improvement Program under Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) Division 72 Section 735-072-0000. This program allows the Oregon DMV to take action against drivers with repeated or avoidable traffic violations or accidents, unpaid traffic fines, or missed court appearances.

A 30-day suspension applies when a driver has three convictions, three preventable crashes, or any mix of three within 18 months. The same penalty applies for those with four convictions, four accidents, or a combination of four within two years. These rules apply to drivers of all ages.

The Oregon DMV may also label a driver as a habitual offender after three or more vehicle-related criminal convictions or 20 traffic citations within five years.

How Long Do Violations Stay on Your Driving History?

Most traffic violations are retained on Oregon driving records for five years from the conviction date. Some offenses, such as driving with a suspended or revoked license and eluding a police officer, may stay on your record for 15 years. There's a 55-year retention period for severe violations like DUI and aggravated vehicular homicide.

Can You Remove Violations from Your Record?

Under ORS Section 137.225, most misdemeanors and class C felonies may be expunged if eligibility criteria are met. However, traffic offenses are explicitly excluded. This means violations like speeding, reckless driving, or driving without a license cannot be removed from your driving record through expungement.

How To Check Your Vehicle History

The following are the various ways to obtain your official Oregon motor vehicle history report:

• Online: You may request a driving report online using the Oregon DMV's DMV2U web portal, but you must first apply for a DMV Record Inquiry Account.

• By Mail: Complete the Order Your Own Record form (Form 735-7226) with correct details to verify your identity. Mail the completed form, along with the required payment, to the following address:

  DMV Records Services

  1905 Lana Avenue NE

  Salem, OR 97314

• In-Person: Visit an Oregon DMV field office and submit the completed Form 735-7226. You must also present valid proof of identity, such as a state-issued ID, driver's license, or any identification document listed under Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) Section 735-062-0020.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Driving Record in Oregon?

The following are the fees charged by the Oregon DMV for different types of driving record documents:

• Certified Court Print: $3
• Employment Driving Record: $2
• Non-Employment Driving Record: $1.50
• Open-Ended Non-Employment Driving Record: $1.50
• License Information: $1.50

Payments may be made through checks, money orders, cash, mobile payments, debit cards, and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and Discover).

How To Check Your Driving History for Free

While there is a fee for an official MVR, you may check basic traffic case details for free via the OJD's Online Record Search portal.

Alternatively, you may visit the courthouse where the case was heard and use their public access terminals or inspect records directly from the court clerk's office. Though record viewing is free, note that producing copies may incur charges.

What Happens If You Have a Bad Driving Record?

In Oregon, a bad driving record typically involves numerous traffic violations or accidents within a specific period, potentially resulting in license suspension or revocation.

Traffic offenses are classified into felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. Felony offenses, such as third-offense DUI or hit-and-run, carry penalties of up to $375,000 in fines and at least one year of incarceration. These offenses typically involve severe injury, death, or significant property damage and leave a lasting mark on a driving record.

Meanwhile, misdemeanors like driving without a valid license are less severe but may still result in fines of up to $6,250, license suspension, and incarceration of up to one year. Traffic infractions are the least severe and are punishable only by fines, with no court appearance required.

Parking tickets are excluded from Oregon driving records because they are non-moving violations that occur while the vehicle is stationary and pose no immediate threat to road safety.

Likewise, law enforcement warnings are not recorded, as they are informal notices intended to correct conduct without legal penalties.

How Does a Bad Driving Record Affect Insurance and Employment?

Any violations on your record, such as an at-fault accident or speeding ticket, may result in higher insurance premiums. An Oregon driver with a clean record usually pays around $2,131 annually for full coverage. However, an at-fault accident may cause premiums to jump by 50%, bringing the cost to $3,195.

A poor driving record may also prevent you from getting or keeping a job that involves driving. Employers often see violations, suspensions, or accidents as safety risks.

For example, under the Douglas County Driver Policy, candidates applying for government driving positions may be disqualified, and current county drivers may face termination if their record is deemed unacceptable.

The policy defines an unacceptable record as including major offenses like DUI, hit-and-run, reckless driving, having a suspended or revoked license, being a habitual offender, or accumulating three moving violations within 12 months.

Who Can Access Your Oregon Driving History?

The Oregon DMV protects personal information on driving records following the Driver Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) and Oregon's Record Privacy Law (ORS Sections 802.175 - 802.191).

If the requester is not eligible to access sensitive details, a "sanitized" version of the record is provided, with information like name, address, telephone number, and driver's license obscured, blocked, or removed.

Only specific entities, including attorneys, financial institutions, collection agencies, government agencies, private investigators, news media, and tow companies, are qualified to receive personal information from your driving history for specific purposes allowed by federal and state laws.

FAQs About Oregon Driving Records

Find quick answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Oregon driving records below.

Related Articles

When Your Driving License Can Be Revoked and What You Can Do About It?

Is Drunk Driving a Felony, What’s the Punishment, and How Many People Die From It?

What Is a Clean Driving Record, How It Affects Insurance and How to Keep It Clean

What is an Ignition Interlock Device?