The Amity Municipal Court takes place once a month at 10 a.m. and is located at 109 Maddox Avenue, Amity OR 97101.
The date and time of your court appearance is written on your ticket in the bottom left corner. You will need to check in with the court staff when you arrive, and then wait until the judge calls your name. The judge will ask you to enter a plea. You may plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
Court Options:
Plead Not Guilty and request a hearing, the defendant shall complete appropriate forms documenting the plea of not guilty and the request for a trial. The defendant shall provide a current address and phone number. If the original appearance date has passed by more than seven days, the defendant shall also post the appropriate base fine amount and pay any other related fees. The clerk shall send a trial date notice to the defendant by mail;
Plead Guilty or No Contest and Pay a Fine. The clerk shall view the defendant’s driving record and determine the number of moving violations the defendant has been convicted of with the three years before the date of the alleged offense. Based on this information, the clerk shall determine the appropriate fine under the Violations Bureau Fine Schedule. The fine amount a defendant would pay pursuant to the Violations Bureau Fine Schedule shall be disclosed to the defendant. If the defendant consents to the violation being processed by the Violations Bureau, the clerk shall accept the defendant’s plea of guilty or no contest, enter the conviction and impose the appropriate fine (and any additional fees or assessments). The clerk shall then accept payment in full of the fine or have the defendant enter into an installment agreement;
See the Judge in open court. If a defendant seeks to plead guilty or no contest to a violation, but does not consent to the authority or determination of the Violations Clerk, the defendant shall have only the option of pleading not guilty and having the matter set for trial; or, the defendant may appear before the judge for imposition of the fine. The clerk shall inform the defendant of these options. The matter shall proceed pursuant to the defendant’s choice.
* If the defendant does not choose how to proceed on a violation under the clerk’s authority, the clerk shall enter a not guilty plea and set the matter for trial.
Failure to Appear; Suspension of Driver’s License: On all traffic violation matters, if a defendant fails to appear at the date and time on the citation, or thereafter fails to appear at any scheduled court proceeding on the citation, the clerk shall take the appropriate steps to cause the Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend the defendant’s driving privileges for failure to appear. The clerk shall also send the defendant a notice informing the defendant of the clerk’s action and any other information as the court might direct.
Any license suspension imposed because of a failure to appear on the citation shall remain in effect until the defendant pays the entire amount owed, including a suspension clearance fee. A defendant may appear before the judge to request relief from the provisions of this paragraph.
Failure to Comply; Suspension of Driver’s License: On all traffic violation matters, if a defendant either fails to pay a fine, or fails to comply with any condition upon which the payment of a fine is to be made, the clerk shall take appropriate steps to cause the Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend the defendant’s driving privileges for failure to comply. The clerk shall also cancel the suspended portion of any fine related to the citation the defendant has failed to comply with, thereby obligating the defendant to pay the full fine amount. Additionally, the clerk shall send the defendant a letter informing the defendant of the clerk’s action, the total amount the defendant now owes the court, and any other information the court might direct.
A license suspension imposed because of failure to comply shall remain in effect until the defendant pays the entire amount owed, including a suspension clearance fee. A defendant may appear before the court to request relief from the provisions of this paragraph.
Failure to Appear; Entry of Judgment: On all violations that are subject to this order, upon failure of a defendant to make a first appearance on the date on the violation citation and who also fails to make contact with the clerk within 30 days following the scheduled appearance date the clerk shall, unless otherwise required by law, enter a default judgment against the defendant as provided by ORS 153-102(1).
On all violation matters, upon the failure of a defendant to appear at the date, time and place set for any trial or other appearance on a violation citation after a first appearance, the clerk shall, unless otherwise required by law, enter a judgment against the defendant as provided by ORS 153.102(2).
Any judgment or default judgment entered pursuant to this section shall impose a sentence to pay the base fine as listed on the citation.