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Traffic accident reports must go directly to DMV
December 20, 2005
05-176
Drivers and owners of vehicles involved in traffic crashes will need to submit accident reports directly to DMV, as part of several new laws taking effect Jan. 1, 2006.
Previously, accident reports could be submitted to law enforcement agencies, as well as DMV, in Oregon. Law enforcement agencies then forwarded the reports to DMV.
Senate Bill 78, passed by the 2005 Legislature, changed Oregon law to require that crash reports be submitted directly to DMV.
“This will reduce the number of people who handle a report before it reaches us, which should reduce the chances that reports are lost or delayed,” DMV Administrator Lorna Youngs said.
Reports can be dropped off at any DMV field office, where most have marked drop boxes. Individuals also can mail their reports to DMV headquarters using the address listed in the instructions that come with the form. Accident report forms can be obtained at DMV field offices or at www.OregonDMV.com.
Under Oregon law, a vehicle crash must be reported to DMV if damage to a vehicle is more than $1,500. Only the driver or owner of the vehicle with damage greater than $1,500 must file an accident report.
If any of the following conditions occur, all drivers or owners involved in the accident must file a report:
- Damage to a vehicle is greater than $1,500 and a vehicle is towed from the scene of the accident.
- Damage to property, other than a vehicle involved in the accident, is greater than $1,500.
- Bodily injury or death.
DMV will suspend the driving privileges of a driver involved in a crash or owner of a vehicle involved in a crash if an accident report is not submitted.
Prompt reporting of crashes is a key safety program for Oregonians. A combination of crashes and traffic violations on a driver’s record can indicate unsafe driving, and DMV can suspend driving privileges. In addition, the Oregon Department of Transportation analyzes crash data for trends or patterns and uses that data to improve traffic safety.
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| More Information |
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For more information, contact:
DMV Public Affairs
(503) 945-5270
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