Ask Oregon Courts for Help With Unpaid Traffic Fines

You can find out which court or courts have suspended your license by calling the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or checking online.

Call the DMV (free):

• Call 503-945-5000. 
• Be ready with a pen and paper. You may need to wait on hold. 
• Ask for a list of courts that have suspended your license and the "docket numbers" or "case numbers" for each case. 
• Write down the full name of each court and the docket number carefully. 

Check online at DMV2U (costs $3):

• Go to the DMV's website called DMV2U.
• Then, go to "Access My DMV Profile."
• If you have not used this service before, you will need to create a new account.

After you log in: 

• Go to "Request my driving record."
• Select "Electronic Certified Court Print."
• Download or print your record within 24 hours.
• Look for the "withdrawals" section to see which courts have suspended or placed a hold your license.

Want more help understanding your record? Learn how to find suspensions on your Oregon driving record here.

Now that you know which courts suspended your license, gather their contact information. 

You can find phone numbers, addresses, and hours for all Oregon courts here.  

Download a worksheet: You can use this worksheet to keep track of the court contact information, your case numbers, debt, and other details.

Call each court and ask:

• How much you owe.
• If your case has been sent to collections.
• How to ask for help from the court with clearing your debt. Some courts ask for a letter, others want you to appear in person.

When you call, if you aren't sure what to ask, you can say: "What is the best way for me to ask for debt forgiveness or a payment plan?"      

• Make sure you contact every court where you owe money.
• You will need to follow each court's instructions separately. 

If your case has been sent to collections:

• Ask the court for the name and phone number of the collections agency.
• Tell them you still want to ask the judge for debt forgiveness or a payment plan.

• Ask how much you owe.
• Do NOT agree to pay yet.
• You do NOT have to give them your current contact information.
• You can block your number by dialing *67 before you call.

You can ask the court to:

• Waive or forgive the amount you owe, or reduce it.
• Set up a monthly payment amount that you can afford.
• Take your case back from collections (if your case is in collections).
• Send a notice to the DMV to lift your suspension so you can get your license back.

Each court will have a different process. You might need to talk to a judge in person or make your request in a letter or email. 

Whether in person or in writing, you should also explain: 

• Why you can't afford the fines.
• How losing your license has made it harder to work, care for yourself, or support your family.
• The steps you have taken to pay your fines or deal with the debt, if any.

You can use this sample letter to help you get started.

Ideas to consider when writing your request:

• Offer community service. You can ask the court if they will let you do community service instead of paying money.
• Show how you've tried. It can help to show the court that you have been trying to fix the problem and are working to move forward.
• Be realistic. If you want a payment plan, add up how much you owe and think about what you can realistically afford to pay each court.

If the court agrees to help:

• They will notify the DMV that your case is resolved.
• This can take a few weeks.

If the court denies your request: You can still ask for a payment plan or offer community service instead of the fine.

Read the next article here for more on how to do this.