Rule 4.090.Electronic Citations
Current through August 1, 2026 · Last verified September 12, 2026
Full Text of Rule 4.090
Plain-English Summary
The rule starts with its terms. An electronic citation is a violation complaint or a criminal citation filed electronically in circuit court by a filing agency under ORS 153.770 or ORS 133.073. A filing agency is a law enforcement agency or a parking enforcement agency that files one. The trial court administrator is the administrator for the circuit court where the citation is filed.
Getting into the program takes approval. A request for authorization to use electronic citations goes to the Odyssey Change Control Workgroup, which reviews it, sends the results of that review to the State Court Administrator, and must obtain that office's approval before authorizing use. The State Court Administrator may set conditions and procedures so the process fits Oregon Judicial Department systems, and the transmission of information and images must be tested by department staff and meet the system requirements for uploading.
A filing agency then has a checklist for each filing. It needs written approval from the trial court administrator before it files anything. A violation complaint must carry all the information ORS 153.770(2)(a) requires, and a criminal citation all the information ORS 133.073(2)(a) requires. Every citation must show a unique identification number for the issuing officer, the officer's name, the officer's eSignature, and the employing agency. Numbers come from a series the trial court administrator approves, and no number may duplicate one the agency has used. A criminal citation with a form of complaint waits until the district attorney has completed the review ORS 133.069(2) calls for. The agency must transmit an image of the citation for public inspection, and it must follow any supplementary local rule the court has adopted on electronic citations.
The mechanics matter for deadlines and for the file. Subject to the statutory restrictions in ORS 133.066(4) and (5) on which offenses can share a citation, an electronic citation may contain up to 10 offenses. The citation is deemed filed when its information is entered in the register of the court. A circuit court may also scan paper uniform traffic citations along with supporting documentation and correspondence and reformat them into an electronic record. Citations filed electronically or scanned, including those carrying added information, judicial orders, judgments, and signatures, are the original and legal court record.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a law enforcement agency get permission to file citations electronically?
The request for authorization goes to the Odyssey Change Control Workgroup for review. That group submits its results to the State Court Administrator and must obtain approval from that office before authorizing use. The agency also needs written approval from the trial court administrator before it files electronic citations.
What information must an electronic citation carry?
All of the information the governing statute requires for the citation type, plus a unique identification number for the issuing officer, the officer's name, the officer's eSignature, and the identity of the employing agency. The number must come from a series the trial court administrator approved and must not duplicate an earlier one.
When is an electronic citation considered filed?
At the time the information for the citation is entered in the register of the court.
How many offenses can one electronic citation include?
Up to 10 offenses on a single citation, subject to the restrictions in ORS 133.066(4) and (5) on the types of offenses that may be combined.
Is a scanned paper citation the official court record?
Yes. The scanning authority in this rule runs to uniform traffic citations filed in paper format, which a circuit court may scan along with any supporting documentation and correspondence and reformat into an electronic record. Citations filed electronically or scanned by hand, including any added information, judicial orders, judgments, and judicial signatures, are the original and legal court record.