The Central Violations Bureau (CVB) is the national center for processing citations, called Violation Notices, for petty offenses, which are minor legal infractions committed on federal property. National forests and parks, and federal office buildings, such as Social Security Administration office buildings or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals, are examples of federal property.
What is a Violation Notice?
A violation notice, also known as a ticket or citation, may be handwritten or typed, just like a traffic or parking ticket. For example, a federal officer may issue a violation notice to a person accused of parking illegally at a VA hospital. The violation notice is tracked by the CVB, which also schedules a court hearing for the violation and accepts payment for the fine indicated in the violation notice, referred to as the total collateral amount.
What Should I Do If I Receive a Violation Notice?
Follow all instructions on the violation notice. Look at Box A and Box B on the notice.
Important Parts of the Violation Notice
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When is My Court Hearing?
Hearings on violation notices are held in the U.S. district court in the district and division in which the violation occurred. The schedule of CVB hearings for each division of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon is available here.
If you received a violation notice, you do not need to request a hearing. CVB will issue a notice to appear to you by mail 30 days before your scheduled hearing with the date, time, and location of the hearing.
Important Parts of the Notice to Appear
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How Do I Resolve My Violation Notice Without a Court Hearing?
If your violation notice does not indicate that a mandatory appearance is required, you may pay the total collateral indicated on your violation notice to resolve your violation notice prior to your court hearing. See What is Forfeiture and Total Collateral?
If you would like to attempt to negotiate the ticket or the amount of total collateral prior to a court hearing. See Who Can I Talk to About the Violation Notice?
How Do I Pay My Violation Notice?
You may pay the total collateral amount indicated on your violation notice instead of appearing in court. If your total collateral is reduced after negotiation or a hearing, the disposition of your case will indicate the amount of money you must pay to CVB. See How Do I Resolve My Ticket Without a Court Hearing?
To pay the total collateral, you may submit payment online, by phone at 800-827-2982, or by mail according to the payment instructions at the CVB website.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon cannot accept payment for CVB total collateral. The only options to pay total collateral to CVB are those set forth on the CVB website.
What Should I Do If My Address is Incorrect on My Violation Notice?
If your address is incorrect on your violation notice, please contact the CVB clerk at 541-431-4100 or . The clerk can update your address and send a notice to appear for your court hearing to the updated address. The CVB clerk can advise you of your upcoming court date and any further information you may need.
What Should I Do If I Lost My Violation Notice?
Who Can I Talk to About My Violation Notice?
If you would like to seek advice about your violation or seek assistance with resolving the violation prior to your court hearing, you may contact a defense attorney. Alternatively, you may negotiate directly with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to attempt to resolve your violation prior to your court hearing.
To discuss the violation with a defense attorney, you may contact the CVB Clerk at the Federal Public Defender's Office (FPD). If you qualify for representation, the FPD may represent you in court. Alternatively, you may retain a defense attorney at your own cost, or you may represent yourself in court or in negotiations with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The U.S. Attorney's Office represents the federal agencies that issue the violation notices. You may contact their office directly and without the assistance of a defense attorney to discuss the violation, a payment plan, or a reduction of the total collateral.
Division-specific FPD and U.S. Attorney Contact Information
Portland
| Federal Public Defender 503-326-2123 |
U.S. Attorney’s Office 503-471-5573 |
Medford
| Federal Public Defender 541-776-3630 |
U.S. Attorney’s Office 541-465-6000 |
Eugene
| Federal Public Defender 541-465-6937 |
U.S. Attorney’s Office 541-465-6000 |
Bend
| Federal Public Defender 503-326-2123 |
U.S. Attorney’s Office 541-465-6000 |
Pendleton
| Federal Public Defender 503-326-2123 |
U.S. Attorney’s Office 503-471-5573 |
If you resolve your violation before the court date, you may not be required to appear in court.
Contact the CVB Clerk for the District of Oregon with any court-related questions:
541-431-4100