§ 153.990 Penalty for false certification

If someone signs a citation or a complaint in a criminal case and lies about the facts on it, they can be charged with a crime. This applies when a person knows the information is false but certifies it as true anyway. It's not enough to be mistaken or careless. The person has to know what they're signing isn't accurate.

Breaking this rule is a Class A misdemeanor. That's a serious charge in Oregon, and it can lead to fines and even jail time. The point of this rule is to make sure people tell the truth when they're involved in official legal paperwork, like citations or complaints that start a criminal case. If someone falsifies these documents, they can face their own criminal charge for doing so.