Only a few have renewed their expired license and registrations

OREGON – (Information provided by the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles)  The grace period for Oregon expired license or vehicle registration will be ending on December 31st.  In 2020, the DMV closed its 60 offices across Oregon amid the pandemic, prompting a huge backlog around the state.  Since the local offices have opened the backlog was aggravated by the shortage of staff.

Locally the Department of Motor Vehicles Office, there has only been a handful of drivers that have renewed their expired license or vehicle registrations.  The grace period that was put in affect last May will be ending December 31st.  After that date, fines could be higher than the normal expiration fee.  

(A statement issued from Governor Kate Brown in May of 2021)

Governor Kate Brown signed into law House Bill 2137 on May 6, 2021. The bill reinstates a citation moratorium for certain traffic violations between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021. The moratorium applies only if your DMV product is expired for six months or less. This legislation is in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent backlog of transactions at the DMV.

The bill prohibits a police officer from issuing the following traffic citations:

• Operating a vehicle without driving privileges under ORS 807.010, based on a driver’s license or driver’s permit expired less than six months.

• Any offense based on vehicle registration, or a vehicle permit, that is expired less than six months.

• Unlawful parking in a space reserved for persons with disabilities under ORS 811.615, based on such a parking permit expired less than six months.

Additionally, House Bill 2137 directs the courts to dismiss any of the violations listed above if issued between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021.

In November the DMV sent mailed notice to about 300,000 Oregon residents who have expired vehicle registrations, urging them to renew before the end of the year. This mailing is in addition to the regular reminder DMV sends a few weeks before your vehicle’s tags expire.

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