Municipal Court
Municipal Court handles parking, traffic, city ordinance, and juvenile citations issued by the Silverton Police Department. Traffic citations can be handled at the clerk’s office between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m on Friday's. You may contact the City departments to make any arrangement you may need during the hours we are closed to the public. All business must be finalized no later than 5:00 p.m. the day before your court appearance.
The Silverton Municipal Court Clerk’s office is located at 410 N. Water Street in the City Hall Finance Office. Municipal Court is held at City Hall located at 410 N. Water Street.
Frequently Asked Questions
The City of Silverton has a correctable violation program. This program offers you the opportunity to correct a qualifying violation, prior to your court date, in exchange for dismissal of the cited violation.
To take advantage of this program, you must do the following prior to your court date:
- Repair or correct the Violation.
- Fill out the "Defendants" section of the Correctable Violation Compliance Form provided by the police department.
- Bring the vehicle to the City of Silverton Police Department or a vehicle inspection during normal City Hall business hours.
- Take the completed form along with your citation and a $50.00 Administrative Fee to the Court Clerk at City Hall.
Upon completion of all the steps the Silverton Municipal Court will dismiss your violation and it will not show up on your driving record.
The City of Silverton Municipal Court does not offer community service for traffic violations.
The City of Silverton offers two diversion programs.
Traffic Diversion:
The City of Silverton Municipal Court offers a traffic diversion 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:
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You have been cited for a single moving violation
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You have received no other moving violations or traffic crime charges within the last three years immediately preceding the date of this citation
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You have a valid non-commercial driver license There was no accident associated with the alleged offense.
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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 90 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.
Insurance Diversion:
The City of Silverton offers an Insurance Diversion Program. If you have not been cited for an insurance violation within the last three years immediately preceding the date of your citation you qualify for this program. You may be approved at court on your court date or by the court clerk before your court date.
Requirements of program: Enter a plea of No Contest (not contesting the facts of the case) Note: A Not Guilty Plea forfeits your insurance diversion option. Fill out the insurance diversion agreement at Court and submit it to the Court Clerk. Pay the presumptive fine amount in full within 90 days of the date of your court appearance. Submit a copy of your insurance card to the court clerk within 14 days of your appearance date. Keep insurance for a period of 180 days with no breaks in coverage. There will be no extensions and no exceptions.
You may appear before the court clerk during City Hall office hours 9:00 am - 5:00pm, Monday-Thursday and 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, Fridays (except holidays). There is a three (3) business day waiting period from the date of citation to allow time to process the citation. All business must be finalized no later than 4:30 pm the day before your court appearance.
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 (3) convictions on your driving record, the clerk will be unable to reduce the fine.
If you would like to plea no contest and explain to the judge what happened, this can be done in writing. 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 and you submitted that with your letter, 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 may be dismissed. Be sure the proof contains the effective dates of the insurance.
You may also pay your ticket online. Please contact the court for your docket # at 503-873-5321 option #1 or email at finance@silverton.or.us.
The clerk can take not guilty pleas and set trials on all infractions either in person or in writing by sending in the copy of the summons with option three filled out, signed, and dated or by letter or email (must be received before your court date).
Fines and fees 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, in the after-hours drop box located outside City Hall in the parking lot or online. Please do not make cash payments through the mail or drop box. If paying by cash you should go to the finance 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 410 N. Water St. Silverton, OR 97381.
You may submit a copy of your completion certificate for your traffic diversion class by:
- Email: finance@silverton.or.us
- Drop off/Mail: Finance Department, 410 N. Water St, Silverton OR 97381
- Drop Box: Drive up on the First St side of City Hall at 410 N. Water St, Silverton OR 97381
You may submit a copy of your insurance card within 14 days after your appearance date by:
- Email: finance@silverton.or.us
- Drop off/Mail: Finance Department, 410 N Water St, Silverton OR 97381
- Drop Box: Drive up on First Street side of City Hall at 410 N. Water St, Silverton OR 97381
The Silverton Municipal Court requires the full balance of your account to be paid either to the City of Silverton or to the collection agency that holds your account. Once the balance is paid in full, we will mail you your reinstatement document for you to take to the Oregon DMV. You may contact the court for your balance information at 503-874-2245.
Please call the City of Silverton Municipal Court for your account balance at 503-874-2245.
Professional Credit Services handles all of our collections. They can be reached at (866) 320-6527.
| Cristal Ruth | Account Clerk II | (503) 873-5321 | cruth@silverton.or.us |
