Fight a Portland parking ticket when you already paid
You paid for parking at the meter/pay station (or had a valid parking permit) at the time of the citation, but the payment receipt fell off the window, wasn't visible from outside the vehicle, or otherwise wasn't seen or recorded by the enforcement officer.
the statement
Copy, customize, submit.
To: Multnomah County Circuit Court, Parking Citation Office Re: Citation No. [CITATION NUMBER] Plate: [PLATE] ([STATE]) Date/Time: [DATE], [TIME] Location cited: [LOCATION] I plead not guilty to this citation and request that it be dismissed. On [DATE], I paid for parking at [LOCATION] at approximately [PAYMENT TIME] using the pay station/muni-meter serving that space. [DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RECEIPT — e.g., it fell off the window, blew away, or was otherwise displaced before the citation was issued]. I had valid, paid-for parking at the location and time cited on this ticket. Under Portland City Code § 16.20.445, proof of payment is required to be displayed, and I made that payment at the pay station serving this space; the receipt's absence from view at the time of enforcement does not reflect a failure to pay. I ask that this violation be dismissed on that basis. Attached: [pay-station payment receipt showing the date, time, and location of purchase; a photo of the receipt if it fell off or was displaced; a copy of the citation; and a signed written explanation of what happened to the receipt]. Respectfully, [YOUR NAME] [ADDRESS] [PHONE] [EMAIL]
This template is for informational use only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Square-bracketed placeholders must be replaced with your specific facts. Rules and deadlines can change; if your situation is urgent, complicated, or high-stakes, email info@imfrustrated.org for a free conversation with a volunteer attorney before you send it.
how to submit it
A few things before you send.
- 1Locate your citation number, date, and the violation code printed on the yellow citation envelope/ticket.
- 2Optionally view the enforcement photos of your vehicle online at PBOT's Citation Photos lookup (citation number and citation date required) before deciding how to respond.
- 3Within 30 days of the citation date, choose one of three responses to avoid the citation going delinquent: (1) pay in full by phone, mail, or the Oregon Judicial Department's Courts E-Pay portal; (2) send a written explanation contesting the citation (a waiver of your right to a court hearing — the judge decides on the papers and either refunds or forfeits your payment); or (3) request a court hearing to plead not guilty.
- 4To plead not guilty and request a hearing, submit the Multnomah County Circuit Court's online Parking Hearing Request Form (linked from the court's 'How Do I Plead Not Guilty and Request a Hearing?' page), or mail/deliver a signed written trial request in the citation envelope. The court's own hearing-request, fine-reduction, registration, ownership-transfer, stolen-vehicle, permit, and disabled-parking-space pages each separately state a 60-day-from-citation-date submission window for their respective forms and documentation — but PBOT's own citation guidance treats 30 days as the operative deadline before delinquency consequences (added fees, a possible immobilization/impoundment warrant) attach, so respond within 30 days whenever possible.
- 5If pursuing a specific documented ground (paid at the time, valid permit/registration not displayed, vehicle sold/transferred/repossessed, vehicle stolen, or a valid disabled parking placard), use the matching Multnomah County Circuit Court form/page and attach the required proof; the court can grant a fine reduction or, on a not-guilty plea, set a trial.
- 6If your hearing is scheduled, appear by the court's video/WebEx hearing process or submit a Trial by Declaration (a sworn written statement) at least 3 business days before the hearing date.
- 7If you miss all deadlines, the court may enter a default judgment for the full fine under ORS 153.820; you generally have up to one year from case closure to file a Motion for Relief from Default Judgment showing good cause, though relief is discretionary.
bring receipts
Attach this evidence.
- ✓Muni-meter/pay-station payment receipt showing the date, time, and location of purchase
- ✓Photo of the receipt if it fell off, blew away, or was otherwise displaced
- ✓A copy of the citation itself
- ✓A signed written explanation describing what happened to the receipt
what Portland rules say
The rule this rests on.
Portland City Code 16.20.445 — Parking Meter Pay Stations (proof-of-payment display requirement)
Multnomah County Circuit Court's own published fine-reduction grounds include 'I had paid for parking at the time of the citation' (e.g., the receipt fell off the window) as an explicit, named reason the court will consider — submitted within 60 days of the citation date via the fine-reduction request form.
if this doesn’t work
Your next move.
If the court rules against you, or you miss the response window entirely, the court may enter a default judgment for the full fine under ORS 153.820, issue a warrant for immobilization and/or impoundment of the vehicle, and assign the balance to collections with added fees. You generally have up to one year from case closure to file a Motion for Relief from Default Judgment with the Multnomah County Circuit Court showing good cause, though relief after that period is granted only at the court's discretion.
questions people ask
FAQ.
Is it enough to show I paid, even without the displayed receipt?
The Multnomah County Circuit Court's own fine-reduction page lists 'I had paid for parking at the time of the citation' as a named ground it will consider, so your pay-station receipt showing the matching date, time, and location is your strongest evidence, even if the receipt itself wasn't visible when the officer cited you.
Where do I submit this — to PBOT or to the court?
To the court. PBOT issues the citation, but Portland parking disputes are decided by the Multnomah County Circuit Court's Parking Citation Office, not by a City hearings office.
How long do I have to submit this?
Respond within 30 days of the citation date to avoid delinquency consequences (added fees, possible immobilization/impoundment). The court's own fine-reduction form separately states a 60-day window, so documentation submitted between 30 and 60 days may still be considered, but don't rely on that margin if you can act sooner.
Nervous about sending it yourself?
we’ll read it over with you.
Email the situation and a volunteer attorney will respond. No commitment, no invoice, no judgment — just an honest second pair of eyes from someone who actually understands the law.
info@imfrustrated.org