City of Tigard

Tigard Municipal Court

Update on Municipal Court Office Hours
Updated: December 30, 2020

While our buildings are closed, we remain committed to providing the same level of service during COVID-19.

Tigard Municipal Court staff are available via 503-718-2478 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from Monday to Thursday. This new schedule will ensure that you receive the customer service that you expect.

Important Notice:
In-Person Hearings Temporarily Cancelled
Contact Municipal Court to Discuss Options

Tigard Municipal Court will not be holding in-person hearings in the unforeseeable future. If you received a traffic ticket and your court date was scheduled any time between March through January 2021, or previously cancelled due to COVID-19, it is important that you contact the court as soon as possible to discuss your options. Failure to contact the court will result in a conviction on your driving record.

Telephone hearings are currently being held while the court counters and city offices are closed. To schedule a phone arraignment or to discuss your options, contact the court office by phone at 503-718-2478 or email to discuss your citation Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Tigard Municipal Court is currently holding traffic trials virtually. Trials are customarily held the first and third Tuesdays of the month beginning at 9:00 a.m. and possibly running through 2:00 p.m. To view the live trials, click here. If there is nothing on the screen, we are either recessing or there are no trials scheduled for that time period.

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The Tigard Municipal Court has adopted measures to protect the health of its staff and the general public, while minimizing the disruptions and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The court continues to provide all services to the public, however modified in format.

Traffic and parking tickets will be handled in one of the ways described in detail on each citation. If you send a letter to the judge or pay online, it will not be necessary to appear in court.
The courtroom and court counters will be closed until further notice. However, court clerks are available by email or telephone from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm., Monday through Thursday to discuss all options available to resolve your ticket.
Telephone arraignments are being offered in lieu of in-person arraignments. All in-person hearings (listed on your citation) are being cancelled for the unforseeable future.
Those pleading “not guilty” will receive a trial setting notice by regular mail and email if an email address has been provided. There will be delays in the scheduling of trials. The court is currently scheduling virtual traffic trials as an option. You may receive an “invitation” for a virtual trial via Microsoft Teams at the email address you’ve provided. Please watch for and respond to that invitation if possible.
Under Oregon law, a person who pleads “not guilty” also has the option of submitting a sworn affidavit, using a form provided by the court, as an alternative to appearing in person for trial. The form for a trial by affidavit will be provided on request.
In a time of economic hardship and uncertainty, judges recognize the need for flexibility and fairness in the imposition of fines. All Oregon courts allow payment agreements. Upon request, and by Oregon statute, judges may take into account any hardships that are brought to their attention.
If you wish to review your options, you may call the court at 503-718-2478 or send email to Court1@tigard-or.gov

Traffic Citations

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 three ways:

By mail, following the instructions on the citation; or
By entering a no contest plea and paying the citation online; or
By contacting a court clerk at 503-718-2478.

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

Traffic Safety Program

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:

You must contact a court clerk by phone, to determine eligibility, before doing any of the remaining steps
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.

Paying a Citation

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.

Getting Legal Advice

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.

Court Rules

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 6: Traffic Diversion Program

Rule 8: Procedures for Testimony and Trials by Affidavit

Rule 9: Tigard Youth Court

Rule 10: Service of Warrants in Juvenile Matters

Rule 11: Procedures for Juvenile Expunction Proceedings

Rule 12: Procedures for Civil Infractions

Rule 13: Collection Fees

Rule 15: Reinstatement of Defendants in Arrears for Traffic Fines

Rule 16: Court Fees

Rule 18: Former Court Rules

Rule 19: Electronic Citations, Filings and Signatures
Rule 21: Recordings of Court Proceedings

From the Judge's Desk: Rules of the Road

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

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.

Marriage Ceremonies

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.

el Tribunal Municipal de Tigard
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Contact
Court Clerks
503-718-2478 | Email

Presiding Judge
Michael J. O'Brien
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Click here to make an online payment.

Municipal Court Location
Located inside City Hall
13125 SW Hall Blvd; Tigard, OR 97223

Hours of Operation
Mon-Thurs: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Court Statement on Racism
By Judge Michael O'Brien

"...It is the duty of all judges to preserve our independence and seek out evidence of bias, conscious or unconscious, at all levels in our justice system. If such biases are revealed, it is the affirmative duty of judges to take prompt corrective measures consistent with Oregon law and the U.S. Constitution." Read the entire Court Statement on Racism.

Useful Links

Annual Court Report
Tigard Municipal Code
Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS)

Washington County Circuit Court
Washington County Juvenile Department
Oregon State Bar
Oregon Judicial Department

Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
Public Transportation

Disclaimer: The information provided on this site does not constitute legal advice. It is offered for your information only. While we make every effort to provide reliable information, there is no guarantee as to its accuracy. For legal advice specific to your situation, contact your lawyer or call the Oregon State Bar's Lawyer Referral Service at 503-684-3763 or toll-free in Oregon at 800-452-7636.

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