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Read. Follow. Verify.Oregon allows former vehicle owners to clear traffic tickets by notifying court of prior sale
Last action · April 6, 2026: Chapter 65, (2026 Laws): Effective date January 1, 2027.Sponsors: Jami Cate and 25 others
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What This Bill Does
People who receive a traffic ticket for a vehicle they no longer own can notify the court within 30 days using a instead of making a court appearance, provided they transferred the vehicle and notified the Department of Transportation beforehand. Upon confirming the exemption, the court is required to dismiss the citation.
Previous vehicle owners avoid court appearances, fines, and potential driver license suspensions for traffic or parking infractions committed by someone else, provided they meet the 30-day notification deadline and submit proof of vehicle transfer.
- Under prior traffic laws, individuals who sold a motor vehicle could still receive traffic or parking citations if the new owner failed to promptly update vehicle registration records with the state. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Previous vehicle owners
Former owners are exempt from court appearances and liability for traffic citations issued after they transferred their vehicle interest, provided they notify the court within 30 days.
Courts with jurisdiction
Courts must review certificates of innocence and dismiss citations upon determining that a cited individual transferred vehicle interest prior to the offense.
Department of Transportation
The department receives required notices of transfer of vehicle interest from owners seeking liability exemptions.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I get a parking or traffic ticket for a car I already sold?
Do I need to appear in court to contest a ticket for a vehicle I no longer own?
When does this law take effect?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
19 actions- Apr 6, 2026HouseChapter 65, (2026 Laws): Effective date January 1, 2027.
- Mar 31, 2026HouseGovernor signed.
- Mar 5, 2026SenatePresident signed.
- Mar 4, 2026HouseSpeaker signed.
- Mar 3, 2026SenateThird reading. Carried by Gelser Blouin. Passed.
- Mar 2, 2026SenateCarried over to 03-03 by unanimous consent.
Show 13 earlier actions
- Feb 27, 2026SenateSecond reading.
- Feb 27, 2026SenateRecommendation: Do pass the A-Eng. bill.
- Feb 25, 2026SenateWork Session held.
- Feb 23, 2026SenatePublic Hearing held.
- Feb 20, 2026SenateReferred to Judiciary.
- Feb 20, 2026SenateFirst reading. Referred to President's desk.
- Feb 20, 2026HouseThird reading. Carried by Cate. Passed.
- Feb 19, 2026HouseSecond reading.
- Feb 18, 2026HouseRecommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed A-Engrossed.
- Feb 16, 2026HouseWork Session held.
- Feb 11, 2026HousePublic Hearing held.
- Feb 2, 2026HouseReferred to Judiciary.
- Feb 2, 2026HouseFirst reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 21 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Exemption from Traffic Ticket Liability for Former Owners
The law creates a statutory exemption allowing individuals who sold a vehicle prior to a traffic infraction to avoid court appearances by filing a certificate of innocence within 30 days.
Connected Entities
Sources
olis.oregonlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy5Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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