To determine if your citation was filed with the Tigard Municipal Court, look at the section of your ticket titled: "YOUR COURT APPEARANCE DATE, TIME AND LOCATION ARE." If it indicates "Tigard Municipal Court" and/or "13125 SW Hall Blvd, Tigard, OR,” the information provided on this website applies to your case.
If you have received a traffic citation in Tigard, you will need to decide how you wish to plead. You may enter a plea of:
- Not Guilty if you wish to contest the charge against you and go to trial, or
- No Contest if you do not want to contest the charge but would like to provide an explanation for the violation and/or see if you are eligible to get the fine lowered.
You may enter your plea in one of four ways:
- By mail, following the instructions on the citation; or
- At the court clerk's desk in Tigard City Hall; or
- By appearing in court at the time set for arraignment on the face of your citation; or
- By entering a no contest plea and paying the citation online.
If you have a question about your guilt or innocence you should speak with an attorney. Oregon law prohibits court staff from providing legal advice.
More...
» I got a ticket... now what?
» Traffic Trial Procedures
» Commonly Cited Traffic Violations
» Appealing a Conviction to Circuit Court
» Payment Options
» Relief from Default Judgment
The City of Tigard is committed to increasing public safety on its streets by giving qualified defendants the opportunity to participate in a traffic safety program. Programs are designed to heighten driver awareness and establish safer habits that lead to fewer violations and collisions.
Eligibility requirements:
To qualify for a program you must meet the standards established for the specific program. Most often that will include:
- The ticket involving a single moving violation.
- No convictions for a moving violation or traffic crime within the last five years.
- No participation in a court-supervised traffic safety class within the last five years.
- Having a valid non-commercial driver license or permit.
Program Requirements:
- Enter a plea of No Contest.
- Sign-up for a specific traffic school class (the court will provide the class information).
- Pay the court program fee in full within the 120-day period.
- Contact the school, pay the registration fee and register for the class.
- Successfully complete the class.
- Provide proof of completion of the class to the court within the 120-day period.
Successful completion of the program within 120-days will result in the ticket being dismissed. The court will not extend the completion date for any reason.
If you are interested in applying for the Traffic Safety Program, please contact the court at 503-718-2478.
The court accepts cash, checks, money orders and VISA, MasterCard and Discover Card for payment of fines. Payment is not accepted over the telephone.
» Payment Options
» Online Payments
#1: If you wish to pay your fine by mail, please make your check or money order payable to the City of Tigard, include the citation number on the check or money order, and attach your traffic citation. You may also submit a written explanation if you wish. If you decide to plead no contest by regular mail, you must submit the full presumptive fine amount for each violation on your citation.
#2: If you wish to pay your fine online, you will be required to plead no contest during that process.
If you want to appear before a judge on a traffic citation or civil infraction, you must appear at your scheduled arraignment. The specific date and time for your appearance are stated on the front of the citation or complaint.
Other arraignments, hearings and trials are conducted on Mondays and Thursdays, depending on the court's docket. You will not be able to appear before a judge unless your case has been placed on the court docket in advance.
In minor traffic and civil infraction cases, you have the right to be represented by an attorney of your choice at your own expense. In such minor cases, defendants and respondents are not entitled to a court-appointed attorney. The
Oregon State Bar’s Lawyer Referral Service can be useful if you need help finding an attorney.
Court clerks can provide you with information about entering a plea, making a payment, requesting a court trial, and other court procedures, rules and practices. However they are prohibited by law (ORS 9.160) from giving legal advice including:
- Speculating about how the judge might decide your case;
- Advising you what to say in court or in court forms; or
- Recommending one procedure or form over another.
IN THE MUNICIPAL COURT OF THE CITY OF TIGARD COUNTY OF WASHINGTON - STATE OF OREGON INDEX TO COURT RULES
Rule 1: Presumptive Fine Schedule
Rule 2: Establish Violations Bureau and Set Fine Schedule
Rule 3: Additional Violations Bureau Authority and Procedures
Rule 4: Resets of Arraignments, Trials and Hearings
Rule 5: Base Fine Requirements for Nonappearing Defendants
Rule 6: Traffic Diversion Program
Rule 8: Procedures for Testimony and Trials by Affidavit
Rule 10: Service of Warrants in Juvenile Matters
Rule 11: Procedures for Juvenile Expunction Proceedings
Rule 12: Procedures for Civil Infractions
Rule 15: Reinstatement of Defendants in Arrears for Traffic Fines
Rule 19: Electronic Citations, Filings and Signatures
Rule 21: Recordings of Court Proceedings
Rules of the Road are a collection of articles written by Tigard’s presiding judge Michael J. O’Brien for the Cityscape; the city’s official newsletter. Judge O’Brien’s goal is to educate the public about traffic safety and Oregon laws. The articles, a newsletter favorite, have covered a wide variety of topics over the years.
We hope you will enjoy these short yet informative pieces. If you have suggestions for future articles please submit your ideas to the court clerk.
See the collection of Rules of the Road.
Civil Infractions are violations of the
Tigard Municipal Code, that are punishable by a civil penalty but not jail time. Civil infractions can be a one-time occurrence or may be a continuous violation with the possibility of penalties accruing each day. Some of the most common infractions are neighborhood nuisances and violations of the zoning, building and business-license ordinances.
For more detailed information about civil infractions and the court process see
Civil Infractions in the Tigard Municipal Court: Frequently Asked Questions.
The court conducts marriage ceremonies by prior arrangement only. Couples must have a valid marriage license and bring two witnesses. For more information, please contact the court at 503-718-2478.
