161.015 General definitions. As used in chapter 743, Oregon Laws 1971, and ORS 166.635, unless the context requires otherwise:
(1) “Dangerous weapon” means any weapon, device, instrument, material or substance which under the circumstances in which it is used, attempted to be used or threatened to be used, is readily capable of causing death or serious physical injury.
(2) “Deadly weapon” means any instrument, article or substance specifically designed for and presently capable of causing death or serious physical injury.
(3) “Deadly physical force” means physical force that under the circumstances in which it is used is readily capable of causing death or serious physical injury.
(4) “Peace officer” means:
(a) A member of the Oregon State Police;
(b) A sheriff, constable, marshal, municipal police officer or reserve officer as defined in ORS 133.005, or a police officer commissioned by a university under ORS 352.121 or 353.125;
(c) An investigator of the Criminal Justice Division of the Department of Justice or investigator of a district attorney’s office;
(d) A humane special agent as defined in ORS 181A.345;
(e) A regulatory specialist exercising authority described in ORS 471.775 (2);
(f) An authorized tribal police officer as defined in ORS 181A.940; and
(g) Any other person designated by law as a peace officer.
(5) “Person” means a human being and, where appropriate, a public or private corporation, an unincorporated association, a partnership, a government or a governmental instrumentality.
(6) “Physical force” includes, but is not limited to, the use of an electrical stun gun, tear gas or mace.
(7) “Physical injury” means impairment of physical condition or substantial pain.
(8) “Serious physical injury” means physical injury which creates a subst
Stored review status: 2025_edition_later_amendments_unresolved. A text match is a research starting point; applicability is not established.
Official chapter context and edition notices
TITLE 16
CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS
Chapter 161. General Provisions
162. Offenses Against the State and Public Justice
163. Offenses Against Persons
163A. Sex Offender Reporting and Classification
164. Offenses Against Property
165. Offenses Involving Fraud or Deception
166. Offenses Against Public Order; Firearms and Other Weapons; Racketeering
167. Offenses Against General Welfare and Animals
169. Local and Regional Correctional Facilities; Prisoners; Juvenile Facilities
_______________
Chapter 161 — General Provisions
Uncodified sections printed in this chapter were amended or repealed by the Legislative Assembly during its 2026 regular session. See the table of uncodified sections amended or repealed during the 2026 regular session: 2026 A&R Tables
2025 EDITION
GENERAL PROVISIONS
CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS
PRINCIPLES
CRIMINAL LIABILITY
PARTIES TO CRIME
JUSTIFICATION
RESPONSIBILITY
(Temporary provisions relating to maximum periods of commitment and community restoration are compiled as notes following ORS 161.371)
INCHOATE CRIMES
CLASSES OF OFFENSES
DISPOSITION OF OFFENDERS
AUTHORITY OF SENTENCING COURT
PRINCIPLES
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Stable record: oregon_criminal_law:legal_authorities:161.015 Source file: ors161.html Pages: Not recorded – Not recorded Passage SHA-256: e1fa32e67ffe7307603784ef295f539294dda48d7ea3515276ffd600a78c4aff Retained source evidence SHA-256: 8773685681f1bf26a63d62a05c338a6e76c17f6dd1b69da0a77625951fdf2fe5
Source location: ORS 161.015 (all printed versions and notes)
Stored source content
161.015 General definitions. As used in chapter 743, Oregon Laws 1971, and ORS 166.635, unless the context requires otherwise:
(1) “Dangerous weapon” means any weapon, device, instrument, material or substance which under the circumstances in which it is used, attempted to be used or threatened to be used, is readily capable of causing death or serious physical injury.
(2) “Deadly weapon” means any instrument, article or substance specifically designed for and presently capable of causing death or serious physical injury.
(3) “Deadly physical force” means physical force that under the circumstances in which it is used is readily capable of causing death or serious physical injury.
(4) “Peace officer” means:
(a) A member of the Oregon State Police;
(b) A sheriff, constable, marshal, municipal police officer or reserve officer as defined in ORS 133.005, or a police officer commissioned by a university under ORS 352.121 or 353.125;
(c) An investigator of the Criminal Justice Division of the Department of Justice or investigator of a district attorney’s office;
(d) A humane special agent as defined in ORS 181A.345;
(e) A regulatory specialist exercising authority described in ORS 471.775 (2);
(f) An authorized tribal police officer as defined in ORS 181A.940; and
(g) Any other person designated by law as a peace officer.
(5) “Person” means a human being and, where appropriate, a public or private corporation, an unincorporated association, a partnership, a government or a governmental instrumentality.
(6) “Physical force” includes, but is not limited to, the use of an electrical stun gun, tear gas or mace.
(7) “Physical injury” means impairment of physical condition or substantial pain.
(8) “Serious physical injury” means physical injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious and protracted disfigurement, protracted impairment of health or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ.
(9) “Possess” means to have physical possession or otherwise to exercise dominion or control over property.
(10) “Public place” means a place to which the general public has access and includes, but is not limited to, hallways, lobbies and other parts of apartment houses and hotels not constituting rooms or apartments designed for actual residence, and highways, streets, schools, places of amusement, parks, playgrounds and premises used in connection with public passenger transportation. [1971 c.743 §3; 1973 c.139 §1; 1979 c.656 §3; 1991 c.67 §33; 1993 c.625 §4; 1995 c.651 §5; 2011 c.506 §22; 2011 c.641 §2; 2011 c.644 §§23,46; 2012 c.54 §§16,17; 2012 c.67 §§9,10; 2013 c.180 §§23,24; 2015 c.174 §11; 2015 c.614 §§147,148]
Note: Legislative Counsel has substituted “chapter 743, Oregon Laws 1971,” for the words “this Act” in sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21 and 36, chapter 743, Oregon Laws 1971, compiled as 161.015, 161.025, 161.035, 161.045, 161.055, 161.085, 161.195, 161.200, 161.205 and 161.295. Specific ORS references have not been substituted, pursuant to 173.160. These sections may be determined by referring to the 1971 Comparative Section Table located in Volume 22 of ORS.
Cross-references
Connections may be documented source relationships, shared citations or nearby passages. Each explains its basis; a connection alone does not establish applicability to your situation.
Oregon criminal law — ORS Title 16 (2025 snapshot) · legal_authorities
166.635 Discharging weapon or throwing objects at trains. (1) A person shall not knowingly throw an object at, drop an object on, or discharge a bow and arrow, air rifle, rifle, gun, revolver or other firearm at a railroad train, a person on a railroad train or a commodity being transported on a railroad train. This subsection does not prevent a peace officer or a railroad employee from performing the duty of a peace officer or railroad employee.
(2) Violation of subsection (1) of this section is a misdemeanor. [1973 c.139 §4]
162.355 Simulating legal process. (1) A person commits the crime of simulating legal process if, with the intent to harass, injure or defraud another person, the person knowingly issues or delivers to another person any document that in form and substance falsely simulates civil or criminal process.
(2) As used in this section:
(a) “Civil or criminal process” means a document or order, including, but not limited to, a summons, lien, complaint, warrant, injunction, writ, notice, pleading or subpoena, that is issued by a court or that is filed or recorded for the purpose of:
(A) Exercising jurisdiction;
(B) Representing a claim against a person or property;
(C) Directing a person to appear before a court or tribunal; or
(D) Directing a person to perform or refrain from performing a specified act.
(b) “Person” has the meaning given that term in ORS 161.015, except that in relation to a defendant, “person” means a human being, a public or private corporation, an unincorporated association or a partnership.
(3) Simulating legal process is a Class C felony. [1971 c.743 §210; 1997 c.395 §1; 2005 c.2 §1]
163.187 Strangulation. (1) A person commits the crime of strangulation if the person knowingly impedes the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of another person by:
(a) Applying pressure on the throat, neck or chest of the other person; or
(b) Blocking the nose or mouth of the other person.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to legitimate medical or dental procedures or good faith practices of a religious belief.
(3) Strangulation is a Class A misdemeanor.
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (3) of this section, strangulation is a Class C felony if:
(a) The crime is committed in the immediate presence of, or is witnessed by, the person’s or the victim’s minor child or stepchild or a minor child residing within the household of the person or the victim;
(b) The victim is under 10 years of age;
(c) The victim is a family or household member, as defined in ORS 135.230, of the person;
(d) During the commission of the crime, the person used, attempted to use or threatened to use a dangerous or deadly weapon, as those terms are defined in ORS 161.015, unlawfully against another;
(e) The person has been previously convicted of violating this section or ORS 163.160, 163.165, 163.175, 163.185 or 163.190, or of committing an equivalent crime in another jurisdiction, and the victim in the previous conviction is the same person who is the victim of the current crime;
(f) The person has at least three previous convictions for violating this section or ORS 163.160, 163.165, 163.175, 163.185 or 163.190 or for committing an equivalent crime in another jurisdiction, in any combination; or
(g) The person commits the strangulation knowing that the victim is pregnant.
(5) For purposes of subsection (4)(a) of this section, a strangulation is witnessed if the
163.547 Child neglect in the first degree. (1)(a) A person having custody or control of a child under 16 years of age commits the crime of child neglect in the first degree if the person knowingly leaves the child, or allows the child to stay:
(A) In a vehicle where controlled substances or cannabinoid extracts as defined in ORS 475C.009 are being criminally delivered or manufactured;
(B) In or upon premises, or in the immediate proximity of premises, where a cannabinoid extract as defined in ORS 475C.009 is being processed, if the premises have not been licensed under ORS 475C.085;
(C) In or upon premises and in the immediate proximity where controlled substances are criminally delivered or manufactured for consideration or profit or where a chemical reaction involving one or more precursor substances:
(i) Is occurring as part of unlawfully manufacturing a controlled substance or grinding, soaking or otherwise breaking down a precursor substance for the unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance; or
(ii) Has occurred as part of unlawfully manufacturing a controlled substance or grinding, soaking or otherwise breaking down a precursor substance for the unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance and the premises have not been certified as fit for use under ORS 453.885; or
(D) In or upon premises that have been determined to be not fit for use under ORS 453.855 to 453.912.
(b) As used in this subsection, “vehicle” and “premises” do not include public places, as defined in ORS 161.015.
(2) Child neglect in the first degree is a Class B felony.
(3) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply if the controlled substance is marijuana and is delivered for no consideration.
(4) The Oregon Criminal Justice Commission shall classify child neglect in the first
163.700 Invasion of personal privacy in the second degree. (1) Except as provided in ORS 163.702, a person commits the crime of invasion of personal privacy in the second degree if:
(a)(A) For the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of the person, the person is in a location to observe another person in a state of nudity without the consent of the other person; and
(B) The other person is in a place and circumstances where the person has a reasonable expectation of personal privacy; or
(b)(A) The person knowingly makes or records a photograph, motion picture, videotape or other visual recording of another person’s intimate area without the consent of the other person; and
(B) The person being recorded has a reasonable expectation of privacy concerning the intimate area.
(2) As used in this section and ORS 163.701:
(a) “Intimate area” means nudity, or undergarments that are being worn by a person and are covered by clothing.
(b) “Makes or records a photograph, motion picture, videotape or other visual recording” includes, but is not limited to:
(A) Making or recording or employing, authorizing, permitting, compelling or inducing another person to make or record a photograph, motion picture, videotape or other visual recording.
(B) Making or recording a photograph, motion picture, videotape or other visual recording through the use of an unmanned aircraft system as defined in ORS 837.300, even if the unmanned aircraft system is operated for commercial purposes in compliance with authorization granted by the Federal Aviation Administration.
(c) “Nudity” means any part of the uncovered or less than opaquely covered:
(A) Genitals;
(B) Pubic area; or
(C) Female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola.
(d) “Places and circumst
163.709 Unlawful directing of light from a laser pointer. (1) A person commits the offense of unlawful directing of light from a laser pointer if the person knowingly directs light from a laser pointer at another person without the consent of the other person and the other person is:
(a) A peace officer as defined in ORS 161.015 who is acting in the course of official duty; or
(b) A uniformed private security professional as defined in ORS 181A.840 who is on duty.
(2) The offense described in this section, unlawful directing of light from a laser pointer, is a Class A misdemeanor.
(3) As used in this section, “laser pointer” means a device that emits light amplified by the stimulated emission of radiation that is visible to the human eye. [1999 c.757 §1; 2005 c.447 §9]
Note: 163.709 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 163 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
166.173 Authority of city or county to regulate possession of loaded firearms in public places. (1) A city or county may adopt ordinances to regulate, restrict or prohibit the possession of loaded firearms in public places as defined in ORS 161.015.
(2) Ordinances adopted under subsection (1) of this section do not apply to or affect:
(a) A law enforcement officer.
(b) A member of the military in the performance of official duty.
(c) A person licensed to carry a concealed handgun.
(d) A person authorized to possess a loaded firearm while in or on a public building or court facility under ORS 166.370.
(e) An employee of the United States Department of Agriculture, acting within the scope of employment, who possesses a loaded firearm in the course of the lawful taking of wildlife.
(f) An honorably retired law enforcement officer, unless the person who is a retired law enforcement officer has been convicted of an offense that would make the person ineligible to obtain a concealed handgun license under ORS 166.291 and 166.292. [1995 s.s. c.1 §4; 1999 c.782 §8; 2009 c.556 §3; 2015 c.709 §1]
166.220 Unlawful use of weapon. (1) A person commits the crime of unlawful use of a weapon if the person:
(a) Attempts to use unlawfully against another, or carries or possesses with intent to use unlawfully against another, any dangerous or deadly weapon as defined in ORS 161.015; or
(b) Intentionally discharges a firearm, blowgun, bow and arrow, crossbow or explosive device within the city limits of any city or within residential areas within urban growth boundaries at or in the direction of any person, building, structure or vehicle within the range of the weapon without having legal authority for such discharge.
(2) This section does not apply to:
(a) Police officers or military personnel in the lawful performance of their official duties;
(b) Persons lawfully defending life or property as provided in ORS 161.219;
(c) Persons discharging firearms, blowguns, bows and arrows, crossbows or explosive devices upon public or private shooting ranges, shooting galleries or other areas designated and built for the purpose of target shooting;
(d) Persons lawfully engaged in hunting in compliance with rules and regulations adopted by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife; or
(e) An employee of the United States Department of Agriculture, acting within the scope of employment, discharging a firearm in the course of the lawful taking of wildlife.
(3) Unlawful use of a weapon is a Class C felony. [Amended by 1975 c.700 §1; 1985 c.543 §1; 1991 c.797 §1; 2009 c.556 §5]
166.255 Possession of firearm or ammunition by certain persons prohibited. (1) It is unlawful for a person to knowingly possess a firearm or ammunition if:
(a) The person is the subject of a court order that:
(A)(i) Was issued or continued after a hearing for which the person had actual notice and during the course of which the person had an opportunity to be heard; or
(ii) Was issued, continued or remains in effect, by order or operation of law, after the person received notice of the opportunity to request a hearing in which to be heard on the order, and either requested a hearing but did not attend the hearing or withdrew the request before the hearing occurred, or did not request a hearing during the time period in which the opportunity was available;
(B) Restrains the person from stalking, intimidating, molesting or menacing a family or household member of the person, a child of a family or household member of the person or a child of the person; and
(C) Includes a finding that the person represents a credible threat to the physical safety of a family or household member of the person, a child of a family or household member of the person or a child of the person;
(b) The person has been convicted of a qualifying misdemeanor and, at the time of the offense, the person was:
(A) A family or household member of the victim of the offense; or
(B) A parent or guardian of the victim of the offense; or
(c) The person has been convicted of stalking under ORS 163.732.
(2) The prohibition described in subsection (1)(a) of this section does not apply with respect to the transportation, shipment, receipt, possession or importation of any firearm or ammunition imported for, sold or shipped to or issued for the use of the United States Government or any federal departme
166.274 Relief from prohibition against possessing or receiving firearm; fees. (1) Except as provided in subsection (11) of this section, a person barred from possessing or receiving a firearm may file a petition for relief from the bar in accordance with subsection (2) of this section if:
(a) The person is barred from possessing a firearm under ORS 166.250 (1)(c)(A), (C) or (H) or 166.270; or
(b) The person is barred from receiving a firearm under ORS 166.470 (1)(a) or (b) or, if the person has been convicted of a misdemeanor involving violence, ORS 166.470 (1)(g).
(2) A petition for relief described in this section must be filed in the circuit court in the petitioner’s county of residence.
(3) A person may apply once per calendar year for relief under the provisions of this section.
(4)(a) A person petitioning for relief under this section shall serve a copy of the petition on:
(A) The city chief of police if the court in which the petition is filed is located in a city; or
(B) The sheriff of the county in which the court is located.
(b) The copy of the petition shall be served on the chief of police or sheriff at the same time the petition is filed at the court.
(5)(a) When a petition is denied, the judge shall cause that information to be entered into the Department of State Police computerized criminal history files.
(b) When a petition is granted, the judge shall cause that information and a fingerprint card of the petitioner to be entered into the Department of State Police computerized criminal history files. If, after a petition is granted, the petitioner is arrested and convicted of a crime that would disqualify the petitioner from purchasing or possessing a firearm, the Department of State Police shall notify the court that granted relief under this