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Oregon DUI Information

"Per Se" BAC Level: 0.8
"Zero Tolerance" BAC Level: 0.0
Enhanced Penalty BAC Level:--
"Implied Consent" Law: yes

Administrative License Suspension/Revocation (1st/2nd/3rd Offense) :90d/ 1y/ 1y
Mandatory Alcohol Education and Treatment/Assessment: Both
Vehicle Confiscation Possible?: Yes
Ignition Interlock Device Possible?: Yes

Being convicted of Driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) has extremely serious consequences and penalties. If found guilty on a first offense DUII, you could be fined $5,000.00, your driver's license will be suspended for one year, and you will be required to submit to an alcohol evaluation at your own expense and to complete any treatment program recommended by the evaluator, and you could receive one year in the county jail.

The court may also order:
A period of probation;
At least 48 hours in jail or at least 80 hours of community service;
Unitary Assessment of $90.00;
Statutory assessments of $225.00;
Reimbursement for court-appointed attorney fees;
That you obey all laws during the probation period;
That you not drink alcohol or use or possess drugs;
That you attend a Victims Impact Panel.

Oregon driving under the influence of intoxicant (DUII) laws do afford the opportunity for first-offenders to seek DUI Diversion. However, changes to the law in 2004 make it important to have skilled DUII lawyer assist persons who are considering this alternative, since a guilty or no contest plea to the DUII charges are a prerequisite to eligibility for DUII diversion. This alone makes consultation with a DUII defense attorney mandatory for anyone charged with an Oregon drunk driving offense.
DUI Diversion is a program that allows eligible persons to avoid a DUI conviction and the accompanying court penalties if they are able to complete the program requirements that are imposed. If successfully completed, diversion should result in the dismissal of the DUI charge at the end of one year.

A person arrested for a first-offense Oregon DUII may be eligible UNLESS:
You fail to appear at your arraignment without good cause.
You had another driving under the influence of intoxicants charge pending against you at the time you were arrested for driving under the influence; or
You are participating in, or in the last ten years have participated in, a diversion or alcohol rehabilitation program; or
Within the last ten years you have been convicted of any degree of manslaughter, murder, criminally negligent homicide, assault involving the use of a motor vehicle or driving under the influence of intoxicants; or
The present DUII offense involved an accident resulting in a death or physical injury to another person.

One of the most important things to keep in mind about DUII Diversion is that it has NO EFFECT on any DMV license suspension that may have been imposed for a breath / blood test failure or refusal. A CHALLENGE TO THIS SUSPENSION MUST BE DONE IN A SEPARATE PROCEEDING. Also, keep in mind that DUII Diversion only applies to DUII charges. It is not available to other charges brought, even in the same case. Finally, keep in mind that punishment for the underlying DUII charges is automatic if a person starts DUII Diversion and fails to complete it properly; that is just one of the reasons why consultation with an experienced Oregon drunk driving defense lawyer is critical before considering Oregon DUI diversion.

Oregon DUI defense attorneys also know that diversion will not help with insurance rates. Even if your Oregon DUII charge results in the successful completion of Oregon DUI Diversion, a diversion will appear on your driving record, and your insurance company will still treat you as if you have been convicted of drunk driving.



Oregon DUI Laws
Persons under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any other drugs or substances not to operate vehicle - Penalty.

1. A person may not drive or be in actual physical control of any vehicle upon a highway or upon public or private areas to which the public has a right of access for vehicular use in this state if any of the following apply:
a. That person has an alcohol concentration of at least eight one-hundredths of one percent by weight at the time of the performance of a chemical test within two hours after the driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle.
b. That person is under the influence of intoxicating liquor.
c. That person is under the influence of any drug or substance or combination of drugs or substances to a degree which renders that person incapable of safely driving.
d. That person is under the combined influence of alcohol and any other drugs or substances to a degree which renders that person incapable of safely driving. The fact that any person charged with violating this section is or has been legally entitled to use alcohol or other drugs or substances is not a defense against any charge for violating this section, unless a drug which predominately caused impairment was used only as directed or cautioned by a practitioner who legally prescribed or dispensed the drug to that person.

2. A person violating this section or equivalent ordinance is guilty of a class B misdemeanor for the first or second offense in a five-year period, of a class A misdemeanor for a third offense in a five-year period, of a class A misdemeanor for the fourth offense in a seven-year period, and of a class C felony for a fifth or subsequent offense in a seven-year period. The minimum penalty for violating this section is as provided in subsection 4. The court shall take judicial notice of the fact that an offense would be a subsequent offense if indicated by the records of the director or may make a subsequent offense finding based on other evidence.

3. Upon conviction of a second or subsequent offense within five years under this section or equivalent ordinance, the court must order the motor vehicle number plates of all of the motor vehicles owned and operated by the offender at the time of the offense to be impounded for the duration of the period of suspension or revocation of the offender's driving privilege by the licensing authority. The impounded number plates must be sent to the director who must retain them for the period of suspension or revocation, subject to their disposition by the court. The court may make an exception to this subsection, on an individual basis, to avoid undue hardship to an individual who is completely dependent on the motor vehicle for the necessities of life, including a family member of the convicted individual and a co-owner of the motor vehicle, but not including the offender.

4. A person convicted of violating this section, or an equivalent ordinance, must be sentenced in accordance with this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, unless the context otherwise requires, "drug court program" means a district court-supervised treatment program approved by the supreme court which combines judicial supervision with alcohol and drug testing and chemical addiction treatment in a licensed treatment program. The supreme court may adopt rules, including rules of procedure, for drug courts and the drug court program.
a. For a first offense, the sentence must include both a fine of at least two hundred fifty dollars and an order for addiction evaluation by an appropriate licensed addiction treatment program.
b. For a second offense within five years, the sentence must include at least five days' imprisonment or placement in a minimum security facility, of which forty-eight hours must be served consecutively, or thirty days' community service; a fine of at least five hundred dollars; and an order for addiction evaluation by an appropriate licensed addiction treatment program.
c. For a third offense within five years, the sentence must include at least sixty days' imprisonment or placement in a minimum security facility, of which forty-eight hours must be served consecutively; a fine of one thousand dollars; and an order for addiction evaluation by an appropriate licensed addiction treatment program.
d. For a fourth or subsequent offense within seven years, the sentence must include one hundred eighty days' imprisonment or placement in a minimum security facility, of which forty-eight hours must be served consecutively; a fine of one thousand dollars; and an order for addiction evaluation by an appropriate licensed treatment program.
e. The execution or imposition of sentence under this section may not be suspended or deferred under subsection 3 or 4 of section 12.1-32-02 for an offense subject to subdivision a or b. If the offense is subject to subdivision c or d, the district court may suspend a sentence, except for ten days' imprisonment, under subsection 3 or 4 of section 12.1-32-02 on the condition that the defendant first undergo and complete an evaluation for alcohol and substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation. If the defendant is found to be in need of alcohol and substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation, the district court may order the defendant placed under the supervision and management of the department of corrections and rehabilitation and is subject to the conditions of probation under section 12.1-32-07. The district court shall require the defendant to complete alcohol and substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation under the direction of the drug court program as a condition of probation in accordance with rules adopted by the supreme court. If the district court finds that a defendant has failed to undergo an evaluation or complete treatment or has violated any condition of probation, the district court shall revoke the defendant's probation and shall sentence the defendant in accordance with this subsection.
f. For purposes of this section, conviction of an offense under a law or ordinance of another state which is equivalent to this section must be considered a prior offense if such offense was committed within the time limitations specified in this subsection.
g. If the penalty mandated by this section includes imprisonment or placement upon conviction of a violation of this section or equivalent ordinance, and if an addiction evaluation has indicated that the defendant needs treatment, the court may order the defendant to undergo treatment at an appropriate licensed addiction treatment program and the time spent by the defendant in the treatment must be credited as a portion of a sentence of imprisonment or placement under this section.

5. As used in subdivision b of subsection 4, the term "imprisonment" includes house arrest. As a condition of house arrest, a defendant may not consume alcoholic beverages. The house arrest must include a program of electronic home detention in which the defendant is tested at least twice daily for the consumption of alcohol. The defendant shall defray all costs associated with the electronic home detention.
This subsection does not apply to individuals committed to or under the supervision and management of the department of corrections and rehabilitation.

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