Oregon Code § 161.685·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
Effect
of nonpayment of fines, restitution or costs; report to consumer reporting
agency; rules.
(1)
When a defendant who has been sentenced or ordered to pay a fine, or to make
restitution, defaults on a payment or installment ordered by the court, the
court on motion of the district attorney or upon its own motion may require the
defendant to show cause why the default should not be treated as contempt of
court, and may issue a show cause citation or a warrant of arrest for the
appearance of the defendant.
(2) If the court
finds that the default constitutes contempt, the court may impose one or more
of the sanctions authorized by ORS 33.105.
(3) When a fine
or an order of restitution is imposed on a corporation or unincorporated
association, it is the duty of the person authorized to make disbursement from
the assets of the corporation or association to pay the fine or make the
restitution from those assets, and if that person fails to do so, the court may
hold that person in contempt.
(4)
Notwithstanding ORS 33.105, the term of confinement for contempt for nonpayment
of fines or failure to make restitution shall be set forth in the commitment
order, and shall not exceed one day for each $25 of the fine or restitution, 30
days if the fine or order of restitution was imposed upon conviction of a
violation or misdemeanor, or one year in any other case, whichever is the
shorter period.
(5) If it appears
to the satisfaction of the court that the default in the payment of a fine or
restitution is not contempt, the court may enter an order allowing the
defendant additional time for payment, reducing the amount of the payment or
installments due on the payment, or revoking the fine or order of restitution
in whole or in part.
(6) A default in
the payment of a fine or costs or failure to make restitution or a default on
an installment on a fine, costs or restitution may be collected by any means
authorized by law for the enforcement of a judgment. The levy of execution or
garnishment for the collection of a fine or restitution shall not discharge a
defendant confined for contempt until the amount of the fine or restitution has
actually been collected.
(7) The court, or
the court clerk if ordered by the court, may report a default on a
court-ordered payment to a consumer reporting agency.
(8) The Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court shall adopt rules under ORS 1.002 establishing
policies and procedures for reporting a default under subsection (7) of this
section to a consumer reporting agency that may include, but are not limited
to, limitations on reporting a default to a consumer reporting agency.
(9) Except as
otherwise provided in this section, proceedings under this section shall be
conducted:
(a) As provided
in ORS 33.055, if the court seeks to impose remedial sanctions as described in
ORS 33.015 to 33.155; and
(b) As provided
in ORS 33.065, if the court seeks to impose punitive sanctions as described in
ORS 33.015 to 33.155.
(10) Confinement
under this section may be custody or incarceration, whether actual or
constructive.
(11) As used in
this section:
(a) Consumer
reporting agency means any person that regularly engages for fees, dues, or on
a nonprofit basis, in whole or in part, in the practice of assembling or
evaluating consumer credit information or other information on consumers for
the purpose of furnishing consumer reports to third parties.
(b) Restitution
has the meaning given that term in ORS 137.103. [1971 c.743 §82; 1977 c.371 §5;
1987 c.709 §3; 1987 c.873 §28; 1991 c.724 §27a; 1995 c.79 §50; 1995 c.512 §4;
2015 c.9 §3]
AUTHORITY OF SENTENCING
COURT
Plain English Explanation
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Key Points
01Part of Oregon statutory law
02Referenced as Oregon Code § 161.685
03Subject to legislative amendments
04Consult a licensed attorney for application to specific cases
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