Appearance & Plea

Section: 469
Section: 469

Frequently Asked Questions


False

False
If your citation is computer generated, you will find your citation number in one of two places:
On the top located after:

OREGON UNIFORM CITATION AND COMPLAINT
Ashland Police Department- CITATION E0000000

Or at the end of your citation. Your citation number generally begins with the letter E, unless it is a hand written complaint. If it is hand written, contact the Court for your citation number.

False
Traffic:
Appearance is not mandatory. You may call, submit a written plea, appear at the counter during office hours  on or before your scheduled appearance date.  

Violations:
The Judge requests your presence on all Municipal Code Violations. If you are unable to appear , you must contact to the court prior to your scheduled date and time, to arrange a new appearance date.

Misdemeanors:
Your appearance is required. Failure to appear will result in a warrant for your arrest. If you are unable to appear, you must submit a written continuation request to the Judge, prior to your scheduled appearance date. Your request for continuance must be approved by the Judge.
 
*Please allow at least one week for your case to be filed with the court.

False
First,  contact the Court to check the status of your case. Any clerk will be able to assist you.

Traffic:
You are subject to:
  •  $15.00 suspension fee.
  • Court action against your driving privileges in the State of Oregon.
 
Violations:
                You are subject to:
  • 25% collection fee
  • With late/missed payment, your case may have been turned over to Southern Oregon Credit Services for Collections.

 
Misdemeanors:
The Judge or City Attorney may have requested:
 

  • An Order for Show Cause may be sent you at your last known address ordering you to appear in court on a specific date/time to explain to the Judge why you are not in compliance with your probation or DSA.
  • A warrant for your arrest due to non-compliance.
 
  • Additional fees may be assessed

False
Traffic & Code Violations:

To request a trial, you must submit a written plea of "not guilty" on or before your scheduled appearance date. You can do this by mail or by appearing at the Court counter during office hours. Once the Court receives your plea, you will be given a trial notice with your trial date. You must sign and return this form to the Court a week prior to your trial unless otherwise instructed by a clerk.

Trials are generally held on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month at 1:30pm. Some blackout dates may apply.  If you cannot appear in person, the Court offers a Trial by Affidavit. Contact the Court for more information.

The Court does not appoint representation on traffic and code violation cases. If you wish to retain your own attorney, you must file a notice of representation 10 days prior to your trial.

False
The Ashland Municipal Code is located online on the City's home page www.ashland.or.us or by clicking here.

False
Complete the questionnaire and return it to the court ASAP. Please visit our Jury Duty section on the website for more information.

False
First,  contact the Court to check the status of your case. Any clerk will be able to assist you.

Traffic:
 Oregon DMV- Customer Assistance: (503) 945-5000

Violations:

Southern Oregon Credit Services Inc.: (541) 773-6238


Misdemeanors:
 
 

False
 
Do not go to the Municipal Court in person.
The clerks are unable to assist with parking tickets. 
Call (541) 552-1422 Monday-Friday 8:30 am-5:00 pm to pay your parking ticket by phone.

Parking enforcement is handled by Diamond Parking, a private company contracted by the City of Ashland to enforce parking laws.

If you received a parking ticket, your options are listed below.

Option #1
Pay the citation Option #2
Appeal the citation:
        Write a letter, within 10 calendar days, explaining why you are appealing the ticket.

         Mail letter and payments to:
         Ashland Parking Enforcement
         PO Box 566
         Ashland, OR 97520
 
The Ashland Municipal Judge will review the letter. If the charge is dismissed, the check is returned to the sender.  
 

The appeal process usually takes two weeks.

 All appeals must be made in writing


 Questions:


False

All Ashland Municipal Court warrants are serviceable in Jackson County only.

To clear a warrant you must:
  1. Turn yourself in to any local law enforcement agency in Jackson County, Oregon.
  2. Appear at the Ashland Municipal Court during office hours. An officer will be called to serve the warrant.
  3. Appear any Tuesday morning at 9am for arraignments (excluding holidays.)  You will be placed in the Bailiff’s custody until you appear before the Judge.  
 

False
If you were cited for a traffic violation and you would like more information, please visit the State of Oregon website: www.oregon.gov  or click here.

You are required to respond to your citation by making an “appearance” in Court. You must appear on or before the Court Date shown on your citation.

How to Appear

In Person: You may appear in person at the front counter during office hours. Traffic violations may be handled by a clerk. The Judge is available for plea Tuesday mornings at 9 am. Please contact the clerk to schedule an appearance. All misdemeanor and code violations must appear before the Judge on the date listed on your citation.

Writing: You may enter your plea in writing for traffic violations. Your written appearance must be received by the Court on or before your Court Date.

Failure to Appear

If you fail to make your appearance by the Court Date shown on your citation, the Court will enter a conviction against you on the charges(s) on your citation, impose the presumptive fine(s) shown on your citation, additional fees for failure to appear, and, if appropriate, forward notice of the conviction(s) to the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles. In addition, if your fines are not paid within the time allowed, the Court will impose additional fees and refer your fines to a collection agency and/or take action against your driving privileges.

Entry of Plea

When you make your appearance in Court, you must enter a plea to each of the charges against you. You may enter a plea of "Guilty", “No Contest” or “Not Guilty”. If you fail to enter a plea, the Court will enter a plea of “Guilty” on your behalf.

Plea of "Guilty":  Admits what you are accused of doing and authorizes the Judge to sentence you. You may explain any circumstances you want to the Judge to consider in passing sentence.

Plea of "No Contest": You do not contest the accusation and authorize the court to sentence you the same as on a guilty plea. You may explain any circumstances you want to the Judge to consider in passing sentence, but if you deny guilty, the Judge will enter a "Not Guilty" plea for you and your case will be set for trial at a later date.

Plea of “Not Guilty”:  Denies that you did what you are accused of doing and requests that your case be set for trial at a later date.

NOTICE: By pleading "Not Guilty", you waive your eligibility to participate in traffic school or any other court programs.

Types of Trial

Court Trial (Traffic & Code Violations): If you request an in-person trial, the Court will mail notice of your trial date to you. If you will be represented by an attorney at the trial, your attorney must notify the Court in writing at least 10 days prior to your trial date.

Trial by Affidavit (Traffic & Code Violations): The Court Clerk will give you an Affidavit form to complete and return to the Court. The affidavit must be notarized. The Court will also request an Affidavit from the Officer(s) involved in your citation. Your affidavit or written statement must be returned to the Court by the due date listed on the Affidavit form, or your Trial will proceed without your statement. After the due date has passed, the Judge will review both Affidavits. The Court will notify you of the Judge's decision by mail.

Jury Trial (Misdemeanor Cases Only): if you request a Jury Trial, the Court will notify your attorney of the trial date. Your case will be heard by a jury of 6 and the presiding Judge.

Trial Schedules

Traffic & AMC Code Violation Trials are generally held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 1:30 pm.

Jury Trials are held on Wednesdays at 8:30 am.

Online City Services

Customer Central Online Payment Center
Connect to
Ashland Fiber Network
Request Conservation
Evaluation
Proposals, Bids
& Notifications
Request Building
Inspection
Building Permit
Applications
Apply for Other
Permits & Licenses
Register for
Recreation Programs

Quicklinks

Connect

Share

twitter facebook Email Share
back to top