Driving a Car: Know Your Responsibilities
by: Legal Aid Services of Oregon
Driving a Car: Know Your Responsibilities
Driver's License and Insurance
If you drive a car in Oregon you must have a valid driver's license, liability insurance and current registration for the car. It is illegal to drive without these. You can drive in Oregon with a valid license from another state. If you move to Oregon and intend to stay here or live here for more than six straight months, you are considered an Oregon resident and should get an Oregon license. You can apply for a driver's license in Oregon regardless of your immigration status.
To get an Oregon driver's license you must apply at a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office. You need to bring documents to prove your age (you must be at least 16 years old) and identity, such as a valid passport, immigration card or other ID from this country or another country. You also need to show something else with your Oregon address, like a letter, envelope, utility bill, or rental agreement or rent receipt.
You need to pass a test before you can get your license. If you have never had a license in this country you need to pass a written rules test and a driving test. If you have a license from another state, you may just have to pass the written test. The written test is available in Spanish, and so is the rules manual you can use to study for the test.
Any car you drive must have current registration and liability insurance. You must have the current registration to the car and proof of insurance with you when you drive. If the police stop you and you do not have them, s/he can write you a ticket and may even impound your car.
Drinking and Driving
Driving under the influence of intoxicants (like alcohol) is a very serious crime in Oregon. Even though you may not feel drunk, it is possible that you have had too much alcohol to drive safely or legally. If you are under 21 years old, it is illegal to drive with any amount of alcohol in your blood. If you are over 21 it is illegal to either drive with a certain amount of alcohol (.08%) in your blood or be "noticeably impaired."
If the police catch you driving under the influence, they may take away your license and put you in jail. If the police stop you, you do not have to say anything to them. You may refuse to take a blood alcohol test but if you do so, you will lose your license. If you take the test and fail or if you are convicted of driving under the influence, you will also lose your license. If your license is suspended you may be able to get a "hardship waiver" to let you drive to work. You should ask for a lawyer to represent you before you decide whether to plead guilty or not guilty. It is also against the law to have an open bottle of alcohol, beer or wine in your car. You should put any open containers of alcohol in the trunk. If you break this law you will get a ticket and have to pay a fine.
Traffic Laws
There are many rules for driving in Oregon. You may get stopped because the police think you have violated one of them. Some infractions, such as speeding, can only result in a ticket. Others, like leaving the scene of an accident, are crimes. You should not try to elude (escape from) the police, lie to them about who you are, or give them false identification papers. Be polite but do not volunteer information. See the article "Stopped by Police or Immigration? Know Your Rights" for more information.
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