Fight a Portland parking ticket for a permit that wasn't displayed
You were cited for not displaying a required parking permit (e.g., area, disabled-resident, or vehicle parking permit), but you actually held a valid permit that would have allowed you to park there at the time the citation was issued — it just wasn't properly displayed.
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 was cited at [LOCATION] for not displaying a required parking permit. I held a valid, currently-approved permit — [PERMIT TYPE/NUMBER] — that would have allowed me to park at that location at the time this citation was issued; [DESCRIBE WHY IT WASN'T VISIBLE — e.g., it had shifted on the dashboard, was face-down, or was otherwise not visible from outside the vehicle]. Under Portland City Code § 16.20.503, only current approval of the permit is required, and I held that current approval at the time cited. This is also consistent with the Multnomah County Circuit Court's own published guidance recognizing, as a named ground, that a citation for a permit "not displayed" may be contested where the holder in fact had a permit that would have allowed parking at the time of the citation. I ask that this violation be dismissed on that basis. Attached: [a copy of the valid permit that was in effect at the time of the citation, a copy of the citation, and a signed letter of explanation describing why the permit wasn't visible/displayed]. 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.
- ✓A copy of the valid permit that was in effect at the time of the citation
- ✓A copy of the citation
- ✓A signed letter of explanation describing why the permit wasn't visible/displayed
what Portland rules say
The rule this rests on.
Portland City Code 16.20.503 — Current Approval of Parking Permits Required Before Use
This is a Multnomah County Circuit Court-recognized ground distinct from the general 'wrong ticket details' defense: the court's own permit-citation page states that if you were 'cited for not having a permit displayed, but have a permit that would have allowed you to park when the citation was issued,' you may contest via a fine-reduction request or a not-guilty plea/hearing request. The court warns that if a judge believes the permit is being misused or the holder is confused about its use, a full trial may be ordered instead of a quick reduction.
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.
Does having a valid permit matter if it wasn't visible when I was cited?
Yes, per the Multnomah County Circuit Court's own permit-citation page: if you had a permit that would have allowed you to park there at the time of the citation, that's a named, recognized ground for contesting the ticket even though it wasn't displayed.
Could this still go to a full trial instead of a quick fine reduction?
Yes. The court's guidance warns that if a judge believes the permit is being misused, or the holder seems confused about how it may be used, the judge may order a full trial rather than granting a quick fine reduction.
What kind of permit does this cover?
Any Portland parking permit requiring current approval before use under Portland City Code 16.20.503 — for example, an area permit, a disabled-resident permit, or a vehicle parking permit — as long as it was valid and currently approved at the time the citation was issued.
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