State v. Mendonca

Defendant appeals her conviction for failure to present a valid driver’s license. ORS 807.570. We reverse.

Defendant was stopped by a Grants Pass police officer for driving a vehicle without displaying registration plates. ORS 803.540. After the stop, the officer asked defendant to present to him a valid driver’s license. She did not comply with this request, so the officer cited her for failing to do so.

At her arraignment on the charge, the court asked defendant whether she wanted “to seek an attorney or what.” Defendant did not answer that question. Instead, she said she was appearing under…