Portland, Oregon Traffic Violations Lawyers
Defending speeding and other traffic charges in Oregon
Almost every driver gets a traffic ticket at some time in their life. While it may be tempting to just cry uncle and pay for the ticket, there are often more consequences to a ticket, especially a moving ticket, than you might think. There are likely to be fines and court costs. You may lose your driving privileges. Your insurance rates will likely increase for years. At Philbrook Law Office, PS, our criminal defense lawyers are skilled at showing the police failed to follow proper procedures and failed to protect your rights. We often are able to reduce traffic offenses to less serious offenses – at a benefit more than our legal fee. To contest your driving ticket, call us today.
How can we help?
- What are the different types of traffic violations in Portland?
- What are the penalties for traffic violations in Portland?
- How do traffic violations in Portland affect my insurance rates?
- Can traffic violations affect my commercial driver’s license (CDL)?
- How do your Portland traffic violation lawyers fight for drivers charged with traffic offenses?
- Do you have a Portland traffic violation defense lawyer near me?
What are the different types of traffic violations in Portland?
There are two types of traffic violations in Oregon – moving violations and non-moving violations.
- Moving violations. These violations are graded as Class A, B, C, D, and E violations. Some violations, like vehicular assault, are misdemeanors. The rules of the road for drivers in Portland and throughout Portland include:
- Failure to obey a traffic officer.
- Failure to yield to a pedestrian.
- Violating the basic speed rule. A driver violates this rule if they drive on a highway “at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent,” given the traffic, the surface and width of the highway, hazards at intersections, weather conditions, visibility, and any other conditions.
- Violating a speed limit.
- Vehicular assault.
- Careless driving.
- Reckless driving.
- Failure to maintain a safe distance from another vehicle.
- Failure to stop for a railroad signal.
- Many other moving violations.
- Non-moving violations. These offenses include parking tickets, failure to inspect your vehicle, invalid registration, not having proof of insurance, and other violations.
What are the penalties for traffic violations in Portland?
The monetary penalties for moving violations generally range from $100 to $440. Some surcharges may apply. While Oregon doesn’t use a point system like most states, it does note how many moving violations you have. Too many violations can result in license restrictions and the need to participate in a driver education program.
If you're an adult driver who collects a total of 3 traffic convictions or three accidents, in any combination, within a period of 24 months, the DMV will restrict your driver’s license for 30 days. You will not be allowed to drive between midnight and 5 a.m. unless you are driving to or from work or you're required to be on the road as part of your job.
If you don’t comply with the restrictions, the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division may suspend or revoke your license.
The penalties for non-moving violations can also be quite costly.
In Oregon, some traffic offenses may be classified as felonies. Some examples of felony traffic offenses in Oregon include:
- DUI causing serious injury or death
- Hit and run resulting in serious injury or death
- Vehicular homicide
- Reckless driving causing serious injury or death
The penalties for felony traffic violations can include prison time, large fines, and a loss of driving privileges. “In some cases, a felony offense may be reduced to a misdemeanor if the offender completes specific requirements, such as attending a drug or alcohol treatment program.” Misdemeanor traffic violations can also include a prison sentence of up to one year.
Some traffic violations may be eligible for expungement.
How do traffic violations in Portland affect my insurance rates?
Generally, traffic violations will appear on your driving record. This means that when you apply for insurance, you will need to inform your insurance company of any traffic violations. If you don’t provide truthful information, the insurance company may decline coverage if they review your Oregon driving record.
If you do have a traffic violation on your driving record, your insurance rates will likely increase substantially. The more severe the infraction, the higher your insurance rate will be. Generally, moving violations stay on your driving record for at least four years. This means that a $500 increase will cost you $2,000 over a three-year period.
Can traffic violations affect my commercial driver’s license (CDL)?
There are strict requirements for obtaining a commercial driver’s license. If your license is suspended, you won’t be eligible for a CDL. If you can’t obtain liability insurance, you won’t be eligible for a CDL. We fight to show you are eligible to drive. We also review whether your suspension is due to any inaction by your employer, such as failing to pay your tickets.
How do your Portland traffic violation lawyers fight for drivers charged with traffic offenses?
At Philbrook Law Office, we understand the Oregon traffic laws and the state and country rules of procedures. We use these laws and our experience to develop a strategy to obtain a dismissal, an acquittal, or a plea bargain for less severe and less costly traffic charges.
Our criminal defense lawyers use different defenses depending on the individual charges. Some of the legal defenses we raise include:
- Arguing that a part of the statute can’t be proved
- Arguing that you had a just reason for your actions, such as that due to an emergency, you have to speed up or move into another lane
- Arguing that a device such as a radar device wasn’t properly calibrated when it was used
- Questioning the police officer to show there is some reasonable doubt
- Obtaining videos of the incident from nearby residences
- Arguing that the ticketing process failed to comply with proper formalities, such as that the ticket didn’t include your driver’s license or the make and model of your car.
Do you have a Portland traffic violation defense lawyer near me?
Philbrook Law Office meets drivers charged with traffic offenses at our Portland, Oregon office located at 107 SE Oregon St., Suite 520. Since you may not be permitted to drive, we also discuss traffic offenses by phone and through online video conversations.
We can assert all your defenses and fight to have the charges dismissed or reduced.
Contact Philbrook Law Office for help when you have a traffic ticket
We represent drivers who live in Portland, Oregon and drivers who are just visiting. Our Portland traffic violation lawyers understand how to contest tickets when you can testify in court and when you live outside of Oregon. We fight to have tickets dismissed or to reduce the offense to a less serious offense. To schedule a free consultation, please call us or fill out our contact form. We’ve helped many drivers win their traffic violation cases, reduce the fees, and/or keep their driving privileges. We’re ready to help you today.