ORS 153.021
Minimum fines

  • waiver
  • audit of court

(1)

Unless a specific minimum fine is prescribed for a violation, and except as otherwise provided by law, the minimum fine a court shall impose for a violation that is subject to the presumptive fines established by ORS 153.019 (Presumptive fines) (1) or 153.020 (Presumptive fines) are as follows:

(a)

$225 for a Class A violation.

(b)

$135 for a Class B violation.

(c)

$85 for a Class C violation.

(d)

$65 for a Class D violation.

(e)

$45 for a Class E violation.

(2)

Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, a court may waive payment of the minimum fine described in this section, in whole or in part, if the court determines that requiring payment of the minimum fine would be inconsistent with justice in the case. In making its determination under this subsection, the court shall consider:

(a)

The financial resources of the defendant and the burden that payment of the minimum fine would impose, with due regard to the other obligations of the defendant; and

(b)

The extent to which that burden could be alleviated by allowing the defendant to pay the fine in installments or subject to other conditions set by the court.

(3)

This section does not affect the manner in which a court imposes or reduces monetary obligations other than fines.

(4)

The Department of Revenue or Secretary of State may audit any court to determine whether the court is complying with the requirements of this section. In addition, the Department of Revenue or Secretary of State may audit any court to determine whether the court is complying with the requirements of ORS 137.145 (Definitions for ORS 137.145 to 137.159) to 137.159 (Level V obligations in circuit court judgments) and 153.640 (Disposition of fines for traffic offenses) to 153.680 (Costs). The Department of Revenue or Secretary of State may file an action under ORS 34.105 (Definitions for ORS 34.105 to 34.240) to 34.240 (Appeal) to enforce the requirements of this section and of ORS 137.145 (Definitions for ORS 137.145 to 137.159) to 137.159 (Level V obligations in circuit court judgments) and 153.640 (Disposition of fines for traffic offenses) to 153.680 (Costs). [2011 c.597 §4; 2012 c.89 §11; 2017 c.712 §3; 2021 c.591 §14; 2022 c.68 §1]

Source: Section 153.021 — Minimum fines; waiver; audit of court, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors153.­html (accessed May 26, 2025).

153.005
Definitions 153.008
Violations described 153.012
Violation categories 153.015
Unclassified and specific fine violations 153.018
Maximum fines 153.019
Presumptive fines 153.020
Presumptive fines 153.021
Minimum fines 153.022
Authority of agency to specify rule violation as particular level of violation 153.025
Authority of political subdivision to specify ordinance violation as particular level of violation 153.030
Applicability 153.033
Rules of procedure 153.036
Venue 153.039
Stop and detention for violation 153.042
Citations generally 153.043
Citations for Class E violations 153.045
Citation 153.048
Complaint 153.051
Summons 153.054
Service and filing 153.058
Initiation of violation proceeding by private party 153.061
Appearance by defendant 153.062
Class E violation proceedings (repealed) 153.064
Warrant for arrest upon failure to appear 153.070
When trial required 153.073
Time and place 153.076
Conduct of trial 153.080
Testimony by affidavit or declaration 153.083
Who may present evidence 153.090
Provisions of judgment 153.096
Suspension of fine in certain cases 153.099
Entry 153.102
Entry 153.105
Relief from default judgment 153.108
Effect of judgment 153.111
Distribution of abstracts of convictions 153.121
Appeal 153.530
Designation of speed in complaint and summons charging violation of basic speed rule or speed limit 153.535
Delivery of summons for certain traffic offenses 153.624
Costs for obtaining driving records 153.633
Distribution to state 153.640
Disposition of fines for traffic offenses 153.645
Disposition of fines for traffic offenses 153.650
Disposition of fines for traffic offenses 153.655
Disposition of fines for mass transit district ordinance violations 153.657
Disposition of fines for violations of homeschooled student requirements 153.660
Use of amounts paid to county treasurer 153.675
Disposition of amounts payable to state and local governments 153.680
Costs 153.770
Electronic filing of citation for offenses subject to written uniform citation 153.772
Suspension of driving privileges for failure to appear 153.800
Violations Bureau established by court 153.806
Central Violations Bureau 153.820
Special procedures for parking violations in Multnomah County 153.990
Penalty for false certification 153.992
Penalty for failure to appear

Current through early 2026

§ 153.021. Minimum fines's source at oregon​.gov