Traffic tickets - How to specificy?

[Andy JPA 0]

I have four traffic tickets ever since I came to the US

1. September 2006 - Speeding ticket in - No fine only warning

2. March 2006 - Speeding ticket in - Got a fine and paid

3. April 2005 - Got a ticket as my car windows were tinted - went to court and charges were dismissed

4. November 2002 - Got a ticket for not wearing seat belt (in the back seat)

How do I specify them in Section D - Moral Character for have you ever been cited or arrested?

For ticket 2, I am thinking of following

Why were you arrested, cited, detained or charged?

Speeding - Should I specify the amount of fine here? Should I also specify how much I went over the speed limit by

For the outcome or disposition question?

Should I specify Fine, Paid ticket

[Keysersoze 0]

Are you kidding me? You do not need to report minor traffic tickets. If it is DUI or DWI you have to. Other than your tickets do not required to be listed.

I have four traffic tickets ever since I came to the US

1. September 2006 - Speeding ticket in - No fine only warning

2. March 2006 - Speeding ticket in - Got a fine and paid

3. April 2005 - Got a ticket as my car windows were tinted - went to court and charges were dismissed

4. November 2002 - Got a ticket for not wearing seat belt (in the back seat)

How do I specify them in Section D - Moral Character for have you ever been cited or arrested?

For ticket 2, I am thinking of following

Why were you arrested, cited, detained or charged?

Speeding - Should I specify the amount of fine here? Should I also specify how much I went over the speed limit by

For the outcome or disposition question?

Should I specify Fine, Paid ticket

[Andy JPA 0]

Are you kidding me? You do not need to report minor traffic tickets. If it is DUI or DWI you have to. Other than your tickets do not required to be listed.

I heard different opinions from different people. I beleive for I-485 one does not need to report if the ticket was less than $500 but for N-400 the question is Have you ever been cited?

[parker101 1]

Someone correct us here; but I think if the charges were under $500 and were dismissed you do not have to report them. as long as there were not criminal, of felons. I think I read them somewhere on the instructions. I know one person who was arrested one night for forgeting to pay the traffic fines ontime and charges were dismissed and he was fine at the interview and he did not report it.

[ziko 0]

I have four traffic tickets ever since I came to the US

1. September 2006 - Speeding ticket in - No fine only warning

2. March 2006 - Speeding ticket in - Got a fine and paid

3. April 2005 - Got a ticket as my car windows were tinted - went to court and charges were dismissed

4. November 2002 - Got a ticket for not wearing seat belt (in the back seat)

How do I specify them in Section D - Moral Character for have you ever been cited or arrested?

For ticket 2, I am thinking of following

Why were you arrested, cited, detained or charged?

Speeding - Should I specify the amount of fine here? Should I also specify how much I went over the speed limit by

For the outcome or disposition question?

Should I specify Fine, Paid ticket

That's up to u if u want to report it or no. But my opinion u have to answer Yes to question but u don't need to explain anything and if they ask u in the interview tell them it was fine and u paid them.and u bring the receipt with u for to be in safe side.

Good luck

[lucyrich 20]

The question asks "Have you EVER been cited, detained, ...". The instructions say that you have to provide documentation for most charges, but there is no need to attach separate documentation for most minor traffic tickets. It doesn't say you don't have to report them.

With a few minor traffic tickets, the tickets themselves won't cause a problem for naturalization. So the only concern is making sure you stay well clear of any possible charge of misrepresentation, because misrepresentation can be extremely serious. You could attach a sheet that basically says exactly what the first post in this thread says.

[Old Dominion 26]

I'd report all four as "traffic" and indicate outcome, i.e., not fined, fined $xx, dismissed, fined XX. At interview just tell the truth if asked.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

yes, I would just list them like you did above. I would also include the amounts of the fines paid. Give them the information they ask, but unless the charges were alcohol or drug related or the fines over the specified amounts you don't need to include the documentation. What I would do, however, is bring with you to the interview any documentation that you do have just on the very off-chance the the Interviewing Officer asks to see it. It is better to have it with you and not need it than need it and not have it. These tickets shouldn't cause you any problems with your citizenship application.

[antda 13]

Hi Andy JPA,

In answer to your question, if I were you, I would probably report it. It is better to report something, that it is to lie and/or conceal the fact about it.

It is a crime to lie to an immigration officer than it is to tell the truth.. (and yes, you have to swear to tell the truth during your interview too)

Just enclose copies of the tickets and write an explaination as to what was the situation and why this happened.

And answer the questions on the N-400 accordingly, about this incident. Explain it like you did in your original post....For example, fine paid, etc.

I'm sure the immigration officer will understand here and will 'forgive' you for such.

More likely than not, they will not deny you citizenship because of this, especially if there are no convictions involved.

As well, you have not been convicted of a crime of "moral torpitude", so you're ok there.

If there was a court record too, then you would have to send in the original copy of such as well. If not, then you don't have to worry about this.

Hope this helps too. Good luck with the rest of your journey too...

Ant

I have four traffic tickets ever since I came to the US

1. September 2006 - Speeding ticket in - No fine only warning

2. March 2006 - Speeding ticket in - Got a fine and paid

3. April 2005 - Got a ticket as my car windows were tinted - went to court and charges were dismissed

4. November 2002 - Got a ticket for not wearing seat belt (in the back seat)

How do I specify them in Section D - Moral Character for have you ever been cited or arrested?

For ticket 2, I am thinking of following

Why were you arrested, cited, detained or charged?

Speeding - Should I specify the amount of fine here? Should I also specify how much I went over the speed limit by

For the outcome or disposition question?

Should I specify Fine, Paid ticket

Edited December 27, 2009 by Ant+D+BabyA