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Municipal Court

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1. How do I make payments?

Fines are due and payable when the fine is imposed. If you are experiencing a financial hardship, you may apply for a payment agreement with the court. We accept cash, checks, money orders, and debit/credit cards. Payments can be made in person at the Finance Department at City Hall, by mail, or in the after-hours drop box located outside City Hall in the parking lot. Please do not make cash payments through the mail or drop box. If paying by cash you should go to the clerk’s office during normal operating hours and obtain a receipt. If you pay by mail, please list the exact name on your case and a docket number, this insures your payment is credited to the proper account. Make checks and money orders payable to the City of Silverton.

Mail payments to:

Silverton Municipal Court
306 S. Water St.
Silverton, OR 97381

Payment Agreement

2. How do I handle infractions through the Violation Bureau?

General operations office hours are 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday. There is a three business day waiting period from the date of citation. All business must be finalized no later than 4:30 pm the day before your court appearance. All business must be handled in person at City Hall.

If you would like to plead no contest, you can appear before the court clerk, who will look at your driving record and may be able to reduce the fine. The clerk uses the same fine schedule as the judge. If you have more than three convictions on your driving record, the clerk will be unable to reduce the fine. The clerk can take not guilty pleas and set trials on all infractions either in person or by sending in the yellow copy of the summons with option three filled out, signed, and dated.

If you would like to plead guilty and explain to the judge what happened, this can be done in writing. The letter must be accompanied by the full base fine of all charges. All letters of explanation are given to the judge and must be received before your posted court appearance. The judge reads them, takes your statement and driving record into consideration, and assesses fines accordingly. If you are fined less than the base fine, the refund should reach you within four weeks.

If your ticket is for No Insurance or Failure to Carry Proof of Insurance, and you have proof that you were insured for the vehicle on the date of the ticket, bring your proof to the Court Clerk prior to your court date and that charge will be dismissed. Be sure the proof contains the effective dates of the insurance.

3. Does your court offer Traffic School?

The City of Silverton Municipal Court offers a traffic school program. This program is designed to allow drivers the opportunity to recognize and review their driving habits, attitudes, and behaviors. There is an additional fee involved, but the violation will not go on your driving record if you complete the program and have no subsequent traffic violations within six months. Generally, you can go to Traffic School if:
You have been cited for a single moving violation
You have received no other moving violations or traffic crime charges within the last three years immediately preceding the date of this citation
You have a valid non-commercial driver license
There was no accident associated with the alleged offense.
You did not receive a citation for no insurance.
Your presumptive fine is not greater than $435.

Requirements of program:
Enter a plea of No Contest (not contesting the facts of the case) Note: A Not Guilty Plea forfeits your Traffic School option.
Fill out the traffic school paper work and agreement at Court and submit it to the Court Clerk.
Pay the presumptive fine amount in full within 7 days of the date of your court appearance.
Contact the school, pay the registration fee and register for the class.
Successfully complete the class and receive a Certificate of Completion.
Submit the “Certificate of Completion” to the Court within 90 days of the date of your court appearance.
Do not receive a citation for a motor vehicle violation within the next 180 days of the date of your court appearance.

There will be no extensions and no exceptions.