TriMet Tuesday in Portland's Community Court

You can plead not guilty and get a date in court.
You can pay a fine. The basic fine for not having a valid ticket is $175, but can go as high as $250. If you attend court you can have it reduced to $90.
You can plead no contest, complete eight hours of community service and have the ticket dismissed. Later it’s possible to have it expunged.  But if you fail to complete the hours, the misdemeanor, “Theft of Service” goes on your record and you can’t get it expunged.
If your ticket is expired, or if you left your honored citizen pass at home, the result is the same, she says.  You didn’t have a valid ticket to ride.
“There’s no attorney because this is a violation and not a crime,” Arling says. Technically, however, most of the charges are “theft of service.”
“You’re all innocent till proved guilty,” he says, and explains the options again.
“The good news is that there is no risk of jail no matter what. The bad news is that because it’s a violation you have fewer rights. The standard of proof is a preponderance of the evidence, not beyond a reasonable doubt. That’s 51 percent compared to 99 percent.”
Read the full article:  The Skanner Newspaper - TriMet Tuesday in Portland's Community Court