Oregon legislation · 2026 Legislative Measures
Oregon HB4137: Relating to the transfer of interest in motor vehicles.
Status: Chaptered, April 6, 2026
Digest: If a traffic ticket is sent to a person who sold a car before the traffic offense happened, the old owner may let the court know that they are not required to pay the ticket. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.5). Provides that, in lieu of making a first appearance for a traffic violation citation, the person who is the previous owner of a vehicle may notify the court that the person has transferred interest in the vehicle and is not liable for the citation.
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, March 3, 2026:
83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2026 Regular Session House Bill 4137 Sponsored by Representative CATE, Senator GIROD, Representatives RIEKE SMITH, PHAM H, SANCHEZ; Representatives GOMBERG, GRAYBER, HELFRICH, HELM, JAVADI, LEVY B, LEWIS, MANNIX, MCLAIN, RESCHKE, SKARLATOS, WALTERS, WISE, Senators GELSER BLOUIN, HAYDEN, MANNING JR, NASH, PHAM K, ROBINSON, SOLLMAN, THATCHER (Presession filed.) CHAPTER ................................................. Relating to the transfer of interest in motor vehicles; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 153.061. SECTION 1. ORS 153.061 is amended to read: 153.061. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) or (8) of this section, a defendant who has been issued a violation citation must either: (a) Make a first appearance by personally appearing in court at the time indicated in the summons; or (b) Make a first appearance in the manner provided in subsection (3) of this section before the time indicated in the summons. (2) If a defendant is issued a violation citation for careless driving under ORS 811.135 on which a police officer noted that the offense contributed to an accident and that the cited offense appears to have contributed to the serious physical injury or death of a vulnerable user of a public way, the officer may not enter the amount of the presumptive fine on the summons and the defendant must make a first appearance by personally appearing in court at …
Sponsors
- Jami Cate (R, 11) · primary sponsor