Tillamook Municipal Court now
merged with Justice Court
Thanks to a revenue sharing agreement that will save the City of Tillamook upwards of $60,000 a year, the business of Tillamook Municipal Court has now been taken over by the County Justice Court.
As of July 1, the City of Tillamook will no longer conduct traffic court in City Hall. All new cases will be transferred across the street to the Justice Court on the second floor of the Tillamook County Courthouse at 201 Laurel Ave.
Tillamook City Recorder Abigail Donowho said the change came about because the traffic court's revenues weren’t keeping up with expenditures.
According to County Justice of the Peace Neal C. Lemery, an agreement was reached between the Tillamook City Council and the County Commissioners calling for the Justice Court to take on all city traffic cases. The agreement, Donowho said, calls for a 50-50 split of city traffic case revenues.
"It will save the city about $60,000 a year in expenses," she said.
The county’s Justice Court holds sessions every Tuesday and Thursday morning starting at 8:45 a.m.
"We’ll just mix the traffic cases in with our usual caseload," Lemery said.
City police have been issuing citations noting the change in location for several weeks, according to Donowho, and those who still owe the city for traffic fines have been notified of the change by mail.
Payments for traffic fines should henceforth be sent to the Justice Court at 201 Laurel Ave., Tillamook, OR 97141. Payments may also be made online at www.co.tillamook.or.us/gov/jc/default.htm
Lemery said he will handle cases until his term ends Dec. 31. After that, newly elected Justice of the Peace Joel Stevens will take over. Tim Dolan, who had served as the city's Municipal Court judge for several years, will fill in as needed, Donowho said.
More information about the county’s Justice Court may be obtained by visiting www.co.tillamook.or.us/gov/jc/default.htm. The Justice Court office can be reached by telephone Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (503) 842-3416.