DUI Companion Charges in Oregon

DUI Companion Charges in Oregon

The phrase “DUI companion charges” refers to any number of traffic violations and driving-related crimes in Oregon that are commonly charged along with a DUI. It’s important to keep in mind that an arresting officer can charge certain violations or crimes, and the District Attorney’s Office can decide to not go forward on those charges. However, the opposite is also true: The District Attorney’s Office can add violation or criminal charges that the officer did no arrest or cite you for.

Some of the more common violations associated with DUI are: Violation of Speed Limit, Careless Driving, Violation Of Open Container Law, Driving While Suspended (a misdemeanor often seen charged as a violation), and Refusal To Take A Breath Test. Violations in Oregon are punishable by a fine, but the court cannot impose probation, jail or prison time. However, multiple convictions for certain violations can carry collateral consequences such as increased insurance premiums, and the loss of driving privileges.

Aside from violations, many Oregon District Attorney’s have begun charging other crimes with DUI. The most common additional charges are Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangering. These charges are often added even when a DUI case does not involve an accident. Sometimes the charges are based on a high BAC reading or the presence of passengers in the vehicle. These charges are misdemeanors and can carry the same or worse penalties than DUI (i.e. jail, probation, fines, etc). These charges can also prevent drivers who would normally be eligible for DUI diversion from entering the diversion program. Other charges that may be added by the District Attorney when an accident is involved include “Hit and Run”, felony “Hit and Run”, and Criminal Mischief. For drivers that were driving on a suspended license at the time of a DUI, the charge of Driving While Suspended can be charged as a misdemeanor or as a violation.

Common DUI Companion Misdemeanor Charges

Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 811.140. Reckless driving; penalties

(1) A person commits the offense of reckless driving if the person recklessly drives a vehicle upon a highway or other premises described in this section in a manner that endangers the safety of persons or property.

(2) The use of the term “recklessly” in this section is as defined in ORS 161.085.

(3) The offense described in this section, reckless driving, is a Class A misdemeanor and is applicable upon any premises open to the public.

Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 163.195. Recklessly endangering another person

(1) A person commits the crime of recklessly endangering another person if the person recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury to another person.
(2) Recklessly endangering another person is a Class A misdemeanor.

Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 164.354. Criminal mischief in the second degree

(1) A person commits the crime of criminal mischief in the second degree if:
(a) The person violates ORS 164.345, and as a result thereof, damages property in an amount exceeding $100; or

(b) Having no right to do so nor reasonable ground to believe that the person has such right, the person intentionally damages property of another, or, the person recklessly damages property of another in an amount exceeding $100.

(2) Criminal mischief in the second degree is a Class A misdemeanor.

Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 811.700. Damages to property, failure to driver to perform duties; penalties

(1) A person commits the offense of failure to perform the duties of a driver when property is damaged if the person is the driver of any vehicle and the person does not perform duties required under any of the following:
(a) If the person is the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident that results only in damage to a vehicle that is driven or attended by any other person the person must perform all of the following duties:

(A) Immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close thereto as possible. Every stop required under this subparagraph shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.

(B) Remain at the scene of the accident until the driver has fulfilled all of the requirements under this paragraph.

(C) Give to the other driver or passenger the name and address of the driver and the registration number of the vehicle that the driver is driving and the name and address of any other occupants of the vehicle.

(D) Upon request and if available, exhibit and give to the occupant of or person attending any vehicle damaged the number of any documents issued as evidence of driving privileges granted to the driver.

(b) If the person is the driver of any vehicle that collides with any vehicle that is unattended, the person shall immediately stop and:

(A) Locate and notify the operator or owner of the vehicle of the name and address of the driver and owner of the vehicle striking the unattended vehicle; or

(B) Leave in a conspicuous place in the vehicle struck a written notice giving the name and address of the driver and of the owner of the vehicle doing the striking and a statement of the circumstances thereof.

(c) If the person is the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to fixtures or property legally upon or adjacent to a highway, the person shall do all of the following:

(A) Take reasonable steps to notify the owner or person in charge of the property of such fact and of the driver’s name and address and of the registration number of the vehicle the driver is driving.

(B) Upon request and if available, exhibit any document issued as official evidence of a grant of driving privileges to the driver.

(2) The offense described in this section, failure to perform the duties of a driver when property is damaged, is a Class A misdemeanor and is applicable on any premises open to the public.

Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 811.705. Bodily injury, failure of driver to perform duties; penalties

(1) A person commits the offense of failure to perform the duties of a driver to injured persons if the person is the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident that results in injury or death to any person and does not do all of the following:
(a) Immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close thereto as possible. Every stop required under this paragraph shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.

(b) Remain at the scene of the accident until the driver has fulfilled all of the requirements under this subsection.

(c) Give to the other driver or surviving passenger or any person not a passenger who is injured as a result of the accident the name and address of the driver and the registration number of the vehicle that the driver is driving and the name and address of any other occupants of the vehicle.

(d) Upon request and if available, exhibit and give to the persons injured or to the occupant of or person attending any vehicle damaged the number of any document issued as official evidence of a grant of driving privileges.

(e) Render to any person injured in the accident reasonable assistance, including the conveying or the making of arrangements for the conveying of such person to a physician, surgeon or hospital for medical or surgical treatment, if it is apparent that such treatment is necessary or if such conveying is requested by any injured person.

(f) Remain at the scene of an accident until a police officer has arrived and has received the required information, if all persons required to be given information under paragraph (c) of this subsection are killed in the accident or are unconscious or otherwise incapable of receiving the information. The requirement of this paragraph to remain at the scene of an accident until a police officer arrives does not apply to a driver who needs immediate medical care, who needs to leave the scene in order to secure medical care for another person injured in the accident or who needs to leave the scene in order to report the accident to the authorities, so long as the driver who leaves takes reasonable steps to return to the scene or to contact the nearest police agency.

(2)(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, the offense described in this section, failure to perform the duties of a driver to injured persons, is a Class C felony and is applicable on any premises open to the public.

(b) Failure to perform the duties of a driver to injured persons is a Class B felony if a person suffers serious physical injury as defined in ORS 161.015 or dies as a result of the accident.

Common DUI Companion Violation Charges

Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 811.111. Violation of speed limit

(1) A person commits the offense of violating a speed limit if the person:
(a) Drives a vehicle on an interstate highway at a speed greater than 65 miles per hour or, if a different speed is posted under ORS 810.180 (3), at a speed greater than the posted speed.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsection, drives any of the following vehicles at a speed greater than 55 miles per hour on any highway or, if a different speed is posted under ORS 810.180 (3), at a speed greater than the posted speed:

(A) A motor truck with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds or a truck tractor with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 8,000 pounds.

(B) A school bus.

(C) A school activity vehicle.

(D) A worker transport bus.

(E) A bus operated for transporting children to and from church or an activity or function authorized by a church.

(F) Any vehicle used in the transportation of persons for hire by a nonprofit entity as provided in ORS 825.017(9).

(c) Drives a vehicle or conveyance on any part of the ocean shore in this state at a speed greater than any of the following:

(A) Any designated speed for ocean shores that is established and posted under ORS 810.180.

(B) If no designated speed is posted under ORS 810.180, 25 miles per hour.

(d) Drives a vehicle upon a highway in any city at a speed greater than a speed posted by authority granted under ORS 810.180 or, if no speed is posted, the following:

(A) Fifteen miles per hour when driving on an alley or a narrow residential roadway.

(B) Twenty miles per hour in a business district.

(C) Twenty-five miles per hour in a public park.

(D) Twenty-five miles per hour on a highway in a residence district if the highway is not an arterial highway.

(E) Sixty-five miles per hour on an interstate highway.

(F) Fifty-five miles per hour in locations not otherwise described in this paragraph.

(e) Drives a vehicle in a school zone at a speed greater than 20 miles per hour if the school zone is:

(A) A segment of highway described in ORS 801.462 (1)(a) and:

(i) The school zone has a flashing light used as a traffic control device and operated under ORS 811.106 and the flashing light indicates that children may be arriving at or leaving school; or

(ii) If the school zone does not have a flashing light used as a traffic control device, the person drives in the school zone between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on a day when school is in session.

(B) A crosswalk described in ORS 801.462 (1)(b) and:

(i) A flashing light used as a traffic control device and operated under ORS 811.106 indicates that children may be arriving at or leaving school; or

(ii) Children are present, as described in ORS 811.124.

(2) The offense described in this section, violating a speed limit, is punishable as provided in ORS 811.109.

Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 811.135. Careless driving; penalties

(1) A person commits the offense of careless driving if the person drives any vehicle upon a highway or other premises described in this section in a manner that endangers or would be likely to endanger any person or property.
(2) The offense described in this section, careless driving, applies on any premises open to the public and is a Class B traffic violation unless commission of the offense contributes to an accident. If commission of the offense contributes to an accident, the offense is a Class A traffic violation.

Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 811.170. Open container violations; penalties

(1) A person commits the offense of violation of the open container law in a motor vehicle if the person does any of the following:
(a) Drinks any alcoholic liquor in a motor vehicle when the vehicle is upon a highway.

(b) Possesses on one’s person, while in a motor vehicle upon a highway, any bottle, can or other receptacle containing any alcoholic liquor, which has been opened, or a seal broken, or the contents of which have been partially removed.

(c) Keeps in a motor vehicle when the vehicle is upon any highway, any bottle, can or other receptacle containing any alcoholic liquor, which has been opened, or a seal broken, or the contents of which have been partially removed. The following apply to this paragraph:

(A) This paragraph applies only to the registered owner of any motor vehicle or, if the registered owner is not then present in the vehicle, to the driver of the vehicle.

(B) This paragraph does not apply if the bottle, can or other receptacle is kept in the trunk of the vehicle, or kept in some other area of the vehicle not normally occupied by the driver or passengers if the vehicle is not equipped with a trunk.

(C) For purposes of this paragraph, a utility compartment or glove compartment is considered within the area occupied by the driver and passengers.

(D) This paragraph does not apply to the living quarters of a camper or motor home.

(2) The offense described in this section does not apply to passengers in a motor vehicle operated by a common carrier and used primarily to carry passengers for hire.

(3) The offense described in this section, violation of the open container law in a motor vehicle, is a Class B traffic violation.

Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 811.175. Driving while privileges suspended or revoked; penalties

(1) A person commits the offense of violation driving while suspended or revoked if the person does any of the following:
(a) Drives a motor vehicle upon a highway during a period when the person’s driving privileges or right to apply for driving privileges have been suspended or revoked in this state by a court or by the Department of Transportation.

(b) Drives a motor vehicle outside the limitations of a probationary permit issued under ORS 807.270 or a hardship driver permit issued under ORS 807.240, including any limitations placed on the permit under ORS 813.510.

(c) Drives a commercial motor vehicle upon a highway during a period when the person’s commercial driver license has been suspended, regardless of whether or not the person has other driving privileges granted by this state.

(2) Affirmative defenses to the offense described in this section are established under ORS 811.180.

(3) The offense described in this section is applicable upon any premises open to the public.

(4) The offense described in this section, violation driving while suspended or revoked, is a Class A traffic violation except as otherwise provided in ORS 811.182.

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