Salem offers three ways to pay a parking ticket: in person, by mail, and online. You must pay within 14 calendar days of ticket issue date or a $10 late fee will be added.
Payment of the fine amount listed on the ticket without entering a plea shall be deemed a plea of no contest.
Contest a ticket
If you would like to contest and submit a plea for a parking ticket, you can do so by appearing in court or contacting the court by phone, mail, email, or fax. If coming to court, refer to Plan a Court Appearance.
Default court action
If you fail to enter your plea, or fail to pay the fine within 14 calendar days, the Municipal Court shall enter an order and judgment of Guilty by Default.
Failure to appear or pay the fine imposed may result in your case being referred to a collection agency. If your case is referred to a collection agency, pursuant to Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 697.105, a fee of up to 25% of the unpaid case balance will be added to your principal balance for any and all collection fees, charges, and interest due.
Traffic citations and other fines may be paid in person, by mail, through a drop box, or online. Telephone payments are not accepted at this time.
Minors must appear in court
Children under the age of 18 who receive a traffic ticket must appear in court with a parent or legal guardian. A court appearance is required regardless of the offense or the intent to pay the ticket in full.
Violations Bureau
Court employees staff the Violations Bureau and are authorized by the judge to handle specific court matters including most traffic violations.
To speak with someone at the Violations Bureau, you can call, email, or come to the court lobby. Contact info is listed on the left side of this page.
When contacting the Violations Bureau for a citation you will be asked to enter a plea. Please follow the instructions on the back of your citation for information about entering a plea. When you enter a plea :
- You may enter a plea of “not guilty” on your traffic citation at the Violations Bureau only if you do not have other outstanding traffic fines. A future hearing will be set where you and the police officer appear in court and speak with the judge about your citation. The judge will hear from both parties and make a decision regarding your case.
- You may enter a plea of “no contest” at the Violations Bureau and see if your cited offense qualifies for a reduction of the fine.
Court appearances
Some reasons you may need to appear before the judge are:
- to request a payment plan,
- if you are unable to pay your fine and the date of your initial court appearance has passed, or
- if you have other matters pending with this court.
View more information about appearing in court.
Payment plan
Payment plans can be set up when you appear in court before a judge. If the fine amount is less than $1,000, a clerk at the Violations Bureau may be ab le to set up a payment plan without you having to appear in court. If you are approved for a payment plan, you must make a payment each month as scheduled. If you do not make a payment each month your payment plan can be revoked. To request your payment plan be reinstated you must contact the court regarding your specific situation.
Collections
Failure to appear or pay the fine imposed may result in your case being referred to a collection agency. If your case is referred to a collection agency, pursuant to Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 697.105, a fee of up to 25% of the unpaid case balance will be added to your principal balance for any and all collection fees, charges, and interest due.
You can pay your ticket or fine using any of the below methods.
Pay by mail or in person
The address to make a payment by mail or in person is:
City of Salem
Customer Service Center
555 Liberty St SE Rm100
Salem, OR 97301
Drop off your payment
You can drop off your payment at a secure drop box located in front of the City's Customer Service Center (555 Liberty St SE, Room 100)
Drive-by payment drop box is located of Liberty between the Salem Library and the Civic Center.
Pay Online
Online payments made through CitePayUSA are assessed a 5.95% surcharge. You can learn more about CitePayUSA and how it works.
Please provide the following information:
For Parking Tickets:
- Parking ticket number
- Vehicle license plate to which the ticket was issued
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For Traffic Tickets:
- Your citation number
- Your date of birth
- or the vehicle plate number
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Can I set up a payment plan?
In most cases you can contact the court to set up a payment plan. For a fine of $1,000 or less, a Violations Bureau staff member can help set up a payment plan over the phone or in person. For anything over $1,000 you must appear before the judge.
In order for the judge to approve a payment plan, you need to fill out a form about your financial status. This form is also available when you check in for your court appearance. The monthly amount of the plan is determined by the judge on a case-by-case basis.
What happens if I miss a payment?
If you do not make a payment each month, your payment plan is revoked. Once your license has been suspended, there are a few options to get your driver license back. To request your payment plan be reinstated, you must appear before a judge (or for a violation contact the court using the contact info on the left of this page).
What if my debt has been referred to collections?
If you fail to appear or pay as scheduled on your case, it can be referred to collections at any time. If your case is in collections, the amount owed will increase by up to 25% and you will need to make payment to the collection agency. To contact the collection agency:
- For cases after 2013, contact Professional Credit Service (PCS) at 877‑411‑8254.
- For cases prior to 2013, contact AllianceOne at 800‑456‑8838.
Contact the court if you are unable to determine which collection agency has your case.
Do I need to appear in court to pay my fine?
Most payments can be made without appearing in court, but some circumstances will require a court appearance. Contact the court if you are unsure if you are required to appear in court.
