Oregon's Traffic Violation System: More Than Just Points

Many drivers are familiar with the "point system" used in other states, where each traffic ticket adds points to your record, and accumulating too many points leads to a license suspension. However, Oregon handles things a bit differently. Instead of assigning a specific point value to each offense, the Oregon DMV tracks the number of convictions you accumulate over time.

Understanding this conviction-based system is crucial for every Oregon driver. It helps you recognize the serious consequences of traffic tickets and motivates you to maintain a clean record from day one.

How Oregon Tracks Traffic Violations

The Oregon DMV does not use a demerit point system. Instead, it operates a "Driver Improvement Program" that monitors your driving record for traffic offense convictions and preventable accidents. When you reach a certain number of these incidents within a specific period, the DMV will intervene with actions that can range from a warning letter to a full license suspension.

Key Timelines and Thresholds:

• 3 convictions or preventable accidents in an 18-month period: This will trigger a warning letter from the DMV, advising you that you are at risk of further action.
• 4 convictions or preventable accidents in a 24-month period: This can lead to a 30-day license suspension.
• 5 or more convictions or preventable accidents in a 24-month period: This will result in a license suspension. The length of the suspension will increase with the number of offenses.

It's important to note that a "conviction" occurs when you either pay the fine for a traffic ticket or are found guilty in court.

The Driver Improvement Program: What Happens When You Get a Ticket?

The goal of the Driver Improvement Program is not just to punish drivers, but to educate them and prevent future violations. The program has several levels of intervention.

Level 1: The Warning Letter

If you accumulate three incidents (convictions/accidents) in 18 months, you will receive a notice from the DMV. This letter serves as a serious warning that your driving habits have put you on the DMV's radar. It is a critical opportunity to re-evaluate your driving and correct your behavior before more severe consequences occur.

Level 2: The Notice of Suspension

If you reach four or more incidents within 24 months, you will receive a "Notice of Proposed Suspension." This is not an immediate suspension. The notice will inform you of the DMV's intent to suspend your license and will give you a specific timeframe (usually 20 days) to request a hearing to contest the suspension.

Level 3: License Suspension

If you do not request a hearing, or if the hearing upholds the DMV's decision, your license will be suspended for a set period. A typical suspension for reaching the threshold is 30 days, but it can be longer for more numerous or severe offenses. Driving while your license is suspended is a serious crime with severe penalties, including fines and jail time.

Serious Offenses and Habitual Offenders

Beyond the standard Driver Improvement Program, certain major traffic violations can lead to immediate and lengthy suspensions on their own, regardless of your prior record. These include:

• Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII): A conviction for DUII carries its own mandatory suspension period.
• Reckless Driving: This serious offense can also trigger a suspension.
• Hit and Run (Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver): Leaving the scene of an accident, especially one involving injury, results in a significant suspension.

A driver who accumulates three or more of these major offenses, or a total of 20 or more of any traffic violations within a five-year period, can be declared a Habitual Offender. This results in a five-year revocation of their driving privileges.

How to Keep Your Record Clean

• Drive Defensively: The absolute best strategy is prevention. Obey speed limits, avoid distractions, and always be aware of your surroundings.
• Contest Unjust Tickets: If you believe you were ticketed unfairly, you have the right to appear in court and plead your case.
• Traffic School Options: In some cases, a judge may allow you to attend a traffic school or driver improvement course to have a ticket dismissed, which would prevent the conviction from appearing on your DMV record. This is at the discretion of the court in the county where you received the ticket.

While Oregon may not have a "point system," the consequences of repeated traffic violations are just as serious. By understanding how the conviction-based system works, you can take the necessary steps to protect your driving record and ensure you keep your driving privilege.