Title 59, Oregon Vehicle Code

“Traffic violation” means a traffic offense that is designated as a traffic violation in the statute defining the offense, or any other offense defined in the Oregon Vehicle Code that is punishable by a fine but that is not punishable by a term of imprisonment. Penalties for traf…

“Trailer” means every vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by another vehicle. Trailer includes, but is not limited to, the following types of trailers: (1) Balance trailers. (2) Bus trailers. (3) Commercial bus trailers. (4) Farm trailers. (5) Pole trailers. (6) Sem…

“Transitional ownership record” means a record containing all of the following: (1) The date of sale or if no sale is involved, the date the contract or security interest being perfected was signed. (2) The name of each owner of the vehicle. (3) The name and address of each secur…

“Travel trailer” means: (1) A recreational vehicle without motive power that is eight and one-half feet or less in width and is not being used for commercial or business purposes; and (2) A prefabricated structure that is eight and one-half feet or less in width and that is not b…

“Truck tractor” means a motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and constructed so as not to carry any load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle or load, or both, as drawn. [1983 c.338 §106]

“Truck trailer” means any trailer designed and used primarily for carrying loads other than passengers whether designed as a balance trailer, pole trailer, semitrailer or self-supporting trailer. [1983 c.338 §107]

“Unloaded weight” means the weight of a vehicle when the vehicle is fully equipped exclusive of load. [1983 c.338 §108; 1985 c.172 §4]

“Vehicle” means any device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway and includes vehicles that are propelled or powered by any means. “Vehicle” does not include a manufactured structure. [1983 c.338 §109; 2003 c.655 §94]

“Vehicle appraiser” means an individual who has been issued a vehicle appraiser certificate under ORS 819.480 and who, for consideration, issues opinions as to the value of vehicles. [2007 c.630 §3]

“Vehicle code” means the Oregon Vehicle Code. [1983 c.338 §110]

“Vehicle identification number” means a distinguishing number assigned and affixed to a vehicle or vehicle component, such as an engine or transmission or other severable portion of a vehicle, by the manufacturer or under ORS 819.400 for the purpose of providing identification fo…

“Vehicle of special interest” means any American or foreign made vehicle that is maintained as a collector’s item and that: (1) Is a street rod under ORS 801.513; (2) Is a high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle and originally manufactured for military use; or (3) Complies wit…

“Vulnerable user of a public way” means a pedestrian, a highway worker, a person riding an animal or a person operating, or riding on, any of the following on a public way, crosswalk or shoulder of the highway: (1) A farm tractor or implement of husbandry; (2) A skateboard; (3) R…

“Worker transport bus” means a vehicle that is described under ORS 820.010 that has a seating capacity of 12 or more passengers. [1983 c.338 §113] _______________ ENROLLED HOUSE BILL 3991 (2025 SPECIAL SESSION) Note: As of the date of publication of the 2025 Edition of the Oregon…

(1) The Department of Transportation shall perform all of the duties, functions and powers with respect to the following: (a) The administration of the laws relating to the motor vehicle fuel license tax, aircraft fuel license tax and use fuel license tax including ORS chapter 31…

(1) Notwithstanding other provisions of the Oregon Vehicle Code relating to certifications, signatures, forms or similar requirements, the Department of Transportation may adopt rules for acceptance and verification by telephone or electronic means of information customarily prov…

The Department of Transportation: (1) Shall purchase the necessary stationery, record books, registration plates and postage, provide for the printing and all other necessary and incidental expenses, employ the necessary clerical assistance, and lease such real estate and buildin…

(1) Nothing in ORS 802.600 prohibits the Department of Transportation from adopting rules to: (a) Authorize persons to act as agents for the department for the purpose of issuing winter recreation parking permits. (b) Designate vehicle dealers holding a valid certificate issued u…

(1) The Department of Transportation shall specify the minimum contents of a report about, and the means for reporting, accidents that are required to be reported under ORS 810.460, 811.725, 811.730 and 811.735. The department shall consult with the state police and city and coun…

(1) The Department of Transportation may compile, publish and distribute a vehicle code book containing statutes administered by the department concerning vehicles and drivers, along with other related laws. The department may establish and collect a reasonable fee for books issu…

The Department of Transportation may: (1) Apply for, accept and receive such grants, contributions or other moneys as may be available to this state or any of its agencies for research and other programs concerning the safe operation of motor vehicles upon the highways, including…

The Department of Transportation shall assist accredited schools and educational institutions of this state in the promotion of highway safety and shall carry on with other activities under the laws providing for the registration of motor vehicles and motor vehicle operators and …

The Department of Transportation shall adopt rules for approval of a motor vehicle accident prevention course that will qualify a person for the reduction in premium provided by ORS 742.490 to 742.494. The rules may include requirements for the contents of a course and qualificat…

The Department of Transportation and the Department of Corrections jointly shall adopt rules and enter into interagency agreements necessary to assist offenders in obtaining a driver license or identification card prior to an offender’s release from a Department of Corrections in…

(1) The Department of Transportation shall pay reasonable costs for the removal of any vehicle, cargo or debris resulting from a motor vehicle accident if: (a) The motor vehicle accident resulted in the death of a person 18 years of age or younger; (b) The accident occurred on a …

The following accounts are established separate and distinct from the General Fund for the financial administration of those functions of the Department of Transportation dealing with driver and motor vehicle services in accordance with ORS 802.110: (1) The Department of Transpor…

Any procedures the Department of Transportation establishes for financial administration of those functions of the department dealing with driver and motor vehicle services and for the disposition and payment of moneys it receives from the provision of driver and motor vehicle se…

The Department of Transportation may impose a surcharge on any fee the department is authorized to collect if the fee is imposed for a transaction that can be accomplished by a customer of the department in more than one way and the customer chooses the more expensive way. A surc…

(1) Motor vehicle fuel used and purchased for providing the motive power for snowmobiles shall be considered a nonhighway use of fuel. (2) The Director of Transportation shall withhold, from taxes collected under ORS chapter 319 during June of each year, amounts the director dete…

(1) The Department of Transportation shall transfer to the State Parks and Recreation Department amounts described in subsection (2) of this section that are paid to the Department of Transportation and determined by the department to be paid with respect to fuel used by Class I,…

(1) There is created the Safety Education Fund, separate and distinct from the General Fund. Interest earned by the fund shall be credited to the fund. (2) Moneys deposited in the Safety Education Fund from the Criminal Fine Account are continuously appropriated to the office of …

The fees collected under ORS 807.370 for the reinstatement of suspended and revoked driving privileges shall be applied by the Department of Transportation to the cost of preparing and serving notices of suspension or revocation and to the cost of administering the driver improve…

If any person pays the Department of Transportation any fee or tax with a bank check and the check is returned to the department as uncollectible, or if a person pays the department with a credit or debit card and for any reason the department does not get payment from the issuer…

As used in ORS 802.175 to 802.191: (1) “Motor vehicle record” means any record that pertains to a grant of driving privileges, an identification card issued by the Department of Transportation, a vehicle title or a vehicle registration. (2) “Person” means an individual, an organi…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in ORS 802.179, neither the Department of Transportation nor any officer, employee or contractor of the department may knowingly disclose or otherwise make available to any person personal information about an individual that is obtained by the de…

(1) The Department of Transportation, upon request or as required by law, shall disclose personal information from a motor vehicle record to a government agency for use in carrying out its governmental functions. (2) The department shall disclose personal information from a motor…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (2) to (5) of this section, a person or government agency that is authorized under ORS 802.179 to receive personal information from motor vehicle records may resell or redisclose the information only: (a) To a person or government a…

(1) The Department of Transportation may establish fees reasonably calculated to reimburse it for its actual cost in making personal information available to a person or government agency authorized under ORS 802.179 to obtain the information. Fees established under this subsecti…

The Department of Transportation may establish a procedure under which the department, upon receiving a request for disclosure of personal information that does not come from a person or government agency authorized under ORS 802.179 to receive the information or does not fall wi…

(1) Nothing in ORS 802.175 to 802.187 authorizes disclosure by the Department of Transportation of personal information that is barred from disclosure by the provisions of ORS 192.355 (2) or 192.368. (2) Nothing in ORS 802.175 to 802.187 prohibits an individual from having access…

Knowingly obtaining or using personal information from a motor vehicle record in violation of ORS 802.175 to 802.187 is a Class A misdemeanor. [1997 c.678 §9]

(1) A person aggrieved by an intentional violation of ORS 802.175 to 802.187 may bring an action at law against a person who has knowingly obtained or used personal information about the aggrieved person in violation of ORS 802.175 to 802.187. The action shall be for actual damag…

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Motor vehicle record” means any record that pertains to a grant of driving privileges, an identification card issued by the Department of Transportation, a vehicle title or a vehicle registration. (b) “Person” has the meaning given that term in O…

In addition to any other records the Department of Transportation may establish, the department is subject to the following provisions concerning records: (1) The department shall maintain records concerning the titling of vehicles in this state. The records under this subsection…

The Department of Transportation shall disclose information about a drug test result that is made to the department under ORS 825.410 or 825.415 only if the person who requests the information provides the department with written permission from the person who is the subject of t…

The Department of Transportation is not required to maintain records on any of the following: (1) The preparation and notification required on approaching expiration of registration under ORS 803.450. (2) The preparation and notification required on approaching expiration of driv…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and ORS 802.177, the records the Department of Transportation maintains under ORS 802.200 on vehicles are public records. The records of vehicles registered under ORS 805.060 are not public records and are exempt from public ins…

(1) The fee for furnishing information concerning vehicle registration records under ORS 802.220 is a reasonable fee established by the Department of Transportation. (2) The fee for furnishing information concerning driver licenses or driver permits under ORS 802.220 is a reasona…

(1) In all actions, suits or criminal proceedings when the title to, or right of possession of, any vehicle is involved, the record of title, as it appears in the files and records of the Department of Transportation, is prima facie evidence of ownership or right to possession of…

(1) An eligible public employee may request that any driver or vehicle record kept by the Department of Transportation that contains or is required to contain the eligible employee’s residence address contain instead the address of the public agency employing the eligible employe…