How Oregon DUII courts are organised
A DUII charge in Oregon is prosecuted in the Circuit Court that serves the county or municipality where the stop happened, not where you live. The clerk's office in that courthouse controls your hearing dates, accepts motions and continuances, and takes payment of fines and court costs. Calendars, filing hours and remote-appearance rules differ from courthouse to courthouse, so confirm them with the clerk before your first date.
Oregon circuit courts hear DUII cases, both misdemeanor first offenses and felony DUII, which arises on a third or later offense within the statutory period. Some cities run municipal courts that handle certain first-offense DUII matters. Appeals go to the Oregon Court of Appeals, with further review by the Oregon Supreme Court.
The state judiciary publishes the authoritative directory of courthouses, judges and calendars at courts.oregon.gov. Use it to confirm the address and division for your case number; local listings age quickly.
Courthouse locations, hearing calendars, clerk contacts and self-help forms.
The separate licence action, which the criminal court does not decide.
What happens at each stage in Oregon
A DUII case in Oregon is heard in the Circuit Court, and it runs on two tracks at once: the criminal case and a separate licence action you must challenge within 10 days of arrest.
- 1Arrest, booking and the chemical test — Officers arrest for DUII under Or. Rev. Stat. § 813.010 and request a breath, blood or urine test under Oregon's implied-consent section, Or. Rev. Stat. § 813.100. Refusing carries its own licence penalty, separate from the criminal charge.
- 2Licence action — request a hearing within 10 days — DMV suspends driving privileges under the implied consent law on a police report of a refusal or test failure, per ORS 813.410. You have 10 days from arrest to demand the administrative hearing with Oregon Department of Transportation, Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division; miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically, whatever happens in court.
- 3Arraignment in the Circuit Court — The charge is read, a plea is entered and conditions of release are set in the Circuit Court. Oregon circuit courts hear DUII cases, both misdemeanor first offenses and felony DUII, which arises on a third or later offense within the statutory period.
- 4Pretrial motions and discovery — Defence counsel obtains the police report, test records and calibration or maintenance logs, and may move to suppress the stop or the test result. Circuit courts use Oregon eCourt and its File & Serve system for criminal filings.
- 5Diversion or treatment disposition — Oregon's DUII diversion programme is statutory, at ORS 813.200 to 813.270, and allows dismissal on successful completion.
- 6Plea or trial, then sentencing — A first DUII conviction carries a fine of $1,000–$6,250, jail exposure up to 1 year, a licence suspension of 1 year, an ignition interlock requirement. Many first offences resolve through diversion, which requires interlock and treatment.
- 7Reinstatement — Interlock installation is required for a hardship permit and for driving after the suspension. Oregon requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before the licence is restored.
Filing and case handling in Oregon
- Circuit courts use Oregon eCourt and its File & Serve system for criminal filings.
- Oregon's DUII diversion programme is statutory, at ORS 813.200 to 813.270, and allows dismissal on successful completion.
- Implied consent hearings are held by the Office of Administrative Hearings, separate from the criminal case.
- Arraignment follows arrest or citation under the timing rules in Oregon's criminal procedure statutes.
Whatever the local practice, take your citation or case number to every call — clerks index by case, not by name — and get the payable amount for fines and court costs in writing before you pay.
Oregon ZIP codes covered
These Oregon ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
Counties and cities using these Oregon resources
Counties
Other Oregon official resources
Frequently asked questions
- Which court handles a first DUII charge in Oregon?
- First-offense DUII cases in Oregon are heard in the Circuit Court for the county where the stop happened. The court clerk's office there sets the arraignment date and accepts filings.
- Does the court case decide whether I keep my licence in Oregon?
- No. The criminal case and the administrative licence action run separately. The licence action is handled by the OR driver-licensing agency, and the request for a hearing is due within 10 days of arrest.