Understand Your Oregon Driving Record and Court Codes
This article is part of a guide to getting your license back if it was suspended for unpaid traffic fines. Go here to start at the beginning.
If your Oregon driver's license is suspended, your driving record can help you understand why and what to do next. This guide shows you how to find what matters in your record most so you can start fixing the problem.
If you don't have a copy of your record:
- Call the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) at 503-945-5000, or
- Go to the DMV's website, DMV2U. Go to "Request my driving record" and choose the option for "Electronic Certified Court Print," which costs $3.
As you go through your record, you don't need to read the entire thing. Focus on:
- Which courts suspended your license.
- Why your license was suspended.
- Whether your suspension is still active.
Step 1: Find the "withdrawals" section
Scroll through your record until you see a section called withdrawals. This is where suspensions and holds on your license are listed.
Step 2: Read each suspension
For each item in the withdrawals section, look at these three things:
- Restraint Type:
- Look for "SUSP," which means your license is suspended. Codes like REV or CANC mean something different.
- Court Location: This tells you which court suspended your license.
- C- = Circuit Court
- J- = Justice Court
- M- = Municipal Court
- Example: J-COLUM = Columbia County Justice Court
- For a complete list of court location codes, go here.
- Withdrawal Reason: This shows why the court suspended your license. Common codes include:
- F/COMPLY: You didn't pay a fine.
- F/A HEAR: You missed a court hearing.
- FAIL COMPLY: Failure to follow a court order.
- FAIL APPEAR: Failure to appear in court.
Check the "Restraint Cease" date
The Restraint Cease date shows when the suspension ended (or will end).
- If the date has already passed, your suspension might be over.
- If the date is blank or in the future, your license is still suspended.
Even if the date has passed, you still need to take steps to get your license back.
Go here to learn about the steps to take to get your license back.
Take notes to follow up
As you go through your record, write down:
- The full name of each court that suspended your license.
- The reason for each suspension.
- Whether the suspension is still active.
Use this worksheet to keep track of the courts, case numbers, and suspension reasons. This list will make it easier when you call or write to the courts later to ask for help.
Still have questions?
DMV records can be confusing. You're not alone.
- You can call the DMV at 503-945-5000 to ask what a code means.
- Read our guide "Ask Oregon Courts for Help With Unpaid Traffic Fines" .
- Find free legal help at oregonlawhelp.org
You don't need to understand everything on your record to fix a license suspension from unpaid traffic tickets.
Focus on finding:
Which courts suspended your license.
Why they suspended it.
Whether the suspension is still active.
Here are some common court-related suspension codes you might see:
F/COMPLY: Failure to pay a court fine
F/A HEAR: Failure to appear at a court hearing
FAIL APPEAR: Failure to appear
FAIL COMPLY: Failure to comply with a court order
Check the Restraint Cease date for each suspension on your driving record.
If the date has already passed, the court may have lifted the suspension.
You still need to contact the DMV to finish reinstating your license.
It’s normal to have questions — driving records can be confusing.
You can call the DMV and ask them to explain what a code or suspension means.
These are some of the most common reasons for suspensions that may appear on your driving record:
F/A HEAR or FA TR CRM: "Failure to Appear," which means you did not show up for a court hearing for a traffic violation. This can lead to a suspension for up to 10 years.
- To get the suspension lifted sooner: Contact the court that issued the suspension.
F/COMPLY – Failure to Comply with a court order, usually for not paying fines. Suspensions can last up to 20 years.
- To get the suspension lifted sooner: Contact the court for options.
F/CHLD SUP – Suspension for not paying child support.
- To get the suspension lifted sooner: Contact the District Attorney or Oregon Child Support Division.
F/FILE, F/F PRF, F/F MIC, F/F ACFR – Suspension for not filing proof of insurance (also called SR-22).
- To get the suspension lifted sooner: File proof of insurance with DMV to lift the suspension.
F/RPT ACC or F/RPT ACCD – Failure to Report an Accident.
- To get the suspension lifted sooner: Report the accident to DMV to end the suspension.