How do I find exact dates of traffic violations?

[Bluehorse 0]

I am eligible to file N-400 next month. I have been in US for 13 years and have had 4 traffic tickets listed below. First one was a parking ticket in Boston, and the rest were in bay area, California. None of them carried penalty exceeding $500/ticket.

My problem is I don't have the exact date/month except #3 below. Are there a government agencies (DMV, police department) or court I can inquiry to find out the exact dates?

Also should parking ticket be reported in N-400?

1. 1 parking ticket in 1999

2. 1 red light ticket in 2001: paid and driving school

3. 1 speeding ticket in 2004: paid and driving school

4. 1 speeding ticket around 2008 (this was driving 72 miles/hour at a 65 miles/hour zone, and was dismissed by court).

Thanks!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I knew a ticket was issued by a State Highway Patrolman so I found the closest local office. Asked how I would find a record and proof of payment. She said all tickets are turned over to one of the four County JP courts depending on where the stop was. I said I remembered paying in person in the courthouse. She said that would have been Judge Joe Smith, but now it's the court of Judge Bob Jones. Looked up that number and called. She found the ticket by looking up the name. She mailed records to us after asking some identifying info like address at the time, make of car, DL number, etc. Didn't take but 2 calls and 15 minutes to track it down. You may have to start with remembering what kind of officer issued the citation---city police force, highway patrol, sheriff..then track it down from there. If it was in a city, then maybe there is a municipal court or traffic court you can try.

[Harsh_77 718]

I am eligible to file N-400 next month. I have been in US for 13 years and have had 4 traffic tickets listed below. First one was a parking ticket in Boston, and the rest were in bay area, California. None of them carried penalty exceeding $500/ticket.

My problem is I don't have the exact date/month except #3 below. Are there a government agencies (DMV, police department) or court I can inquiry to find out the exact dates?

Also should parking ticket be reported in N-400?

1. 1 parking ticket in 1999

2. 1 red light ticket in 2001: paid and driving school

3. 1 speeding ticket in 2004: paid and driving school

4. 1 speeding ticket around 2008 (this was driving 72 miles/hour at a 65 miles/hour zone, and was dismissed by court).

Thanks!

To my understanding most of those tickets would not been even on the record.

If you paid the fines or have done the drivers ed class most speeding tickets would be taken off the record.

Most likely when applying for citizenship, I would not think they would care much about speeding ticket or parking tickets.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Most likely when applying for citizenship, I would not think they would care much about speeding ticket or parking tickets.

But then you read about some offices that do care like this thread http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/293482-frustrating-interview-garden-city-ny/

[randye80 24]

To my understanding most of those tickets would not been even on the record.

If you paid the fines or have done the drivers ed class most speeding tickets would be taken off the record.

Successful completion of traffic school often means that the violation does not show up on public records, or get shared with insurance companies, but your State's Motor Vehicle Department does have all records (that's how they determine whether you are eligible for traffic school next time, for example).

I suspect that USCIS has access to the Master List.

[Bluehorse 0]

Randye80 and folks,

My 3 traffic tickets dated 2001, 2005 and around 2008 were handled by two different local courts (Santa Clara and Fremont). So I talked to both courts and DMV with following findings:

1. Neither court has records of any of teh 3 raffic citations. Nothing. Both said they purge data once the citations have been closed/paid for. Santa Clara court is mailing me a letter stating no pending cases, and Fremont court does not provide any letter.

2. DMV shows record of 1 traffic ticket for 2005. I was told my 2001 ticket must have been removed from record after I told them I attended traffic school. My 2008 ticket was dismissed by court (driving 72 miles at a 65 mile/hour high way), and somehow DMV probably never received it.

So Randye80's comment of "State's Motor Vehicle Department does have all records" is not correct in my case.

I am thinking to report 2001 (with estimated month/date) and 2005 ticket. The 2007 ticket - not sure yet, as there is no record anywhere, and it was dismissed by court... Thought?

Thanks!

quote name='randye80' timestamp='1328132883' post='5134328']

Successful completion of traffic school often means that the violation does not show up on public records, or get shared with insurance companies, but your State's Motor Vehicle Department does have all records (that's how they determine whether you are eligible for traffic school next time, for example).

I suspect that USCIS has access to the Master List.

[jaycali 415]

I am eligible to file N-400 next month. I have been in US for 13 years and have had 4 traffic tickets listed below. First one was a parking ticket in Boston, and the rest were in bay area, California. None of them carried penalty exceeding $500/ticket.My problem is I don't have the exact date/month except #3 below. Are there a government agencies (DMV, police department) or court I can inquiry to find out the exact dates? Also should parking ticket be reported in N-400? 1. 1 parking ticket in 19992. 1 red light ticket in 2001: paid and driving school3. 1 speeding ticket in 2004: paid and driving school4. 1 speeding ticket around 2008 (this was driving 72 miles/hour at a 65 miles/hour zone, and was dismissed by court).Thanks!

The DMV should have your moving violations on file.

As far as I know, parking fines don't even follow the name of the driver, they follow the car title.

What state are you in? I know in California you can go to a local CHP station and get info on your moving violations. I did once. Quick and easy.

Edited February 3, 2012 by jhsm85

[Bluehorse 0]

I am in California. Just called CHP and an officer told me that:

1. CHP turns all the ticket they issued to the court. And the court will forward the information to DMV if defendant is guilty.

2. CHP does not have a central archive of all the tickets its officers issued.

3. Each office keeps his/her records of tickets and they usually keep them for 1 to 2 years.

This was all verbal conversation, so I can't prove this is 100% correct. But I am now inclined to just provide an estimate date of the missing citation(s) I could not find.

[NickD 203]

When my stepdaughter received a decision cannot be made as proof of a paid traffic violation, first person I called was my insurance agent, they have a database with all that stuff listed to determine your insurance rates. He had that date and where that ticket was issued.

My first response to my stepdaughter when she walked out of her IO's office, was go back in and show him your drivers' license and tell him, you wouldn't have this if any fines were not paid. She didn't want to do that.

When her decision letter came in, didn't want proof of paid traffic fines, but wanted her to respond to an assault and battery charge with a date, dated when she was 17 months old.

That was too much for me, called my senator's office and faxed them their letter, they said that was too much. Contacted the field office, five days later got her oath ceremony appointment.

[Bluehorse 0]

17 months old baby assault with newly grown baby teeth and soiled diaper?

I had to file a law suit against INS 40 months+ after I filed 485 as I was stuck in name check for so long. Some branches of government can be quite incompetent. Knock the wood, hope I don't have to put aside money for law suit again...

I have DMV driving record, and letter from one of the two courts (the other court does not provide any letter despite they said they don't have any record about me in their system). I will talk to my insurance co and ask for a letter. I feel I will have done my part after that.