Red Light Violation and Deferred Finding - impact on citizenship?

[milesinfront 2]

Hi, after filing my N-400, I made a prohibited right turn on a red light. I received a ticket from a police officer, and rather than pay the fine, I was granted deferred judgment, where I just paid court administration fees (same $$ as the fine itself). If I maintain a good record for 12 months, it won't appear on my driving record.

My first question is this - in the interview I will obviously have to disclose it. But will it be a problem as the matter is "deferred," i.e. still open? I obviously can't show that the fine has been paid, but I can bring the letter showing deferred adjudication (I'm in Seattle, by the way).

Also, before the interview, my wife got a ticket from a camera for running a red light. I paid the fine, but it registered my name, not my wife's, as the payee - it therefore shows up online as under my name. It was not issued by a law enforcement officer (it was from an automatic camera), so I did not answer "yes" when asked if I had ever been "cited by a law enforcement officer." Will this be an issue?

Thanks in advance!!!

Edited March 3, 2015 by milesinfront

[Boiler 45,525]

Declare it but they will not be interested, most traffic offences are civil not criminal matters.

[Shauneg 762]

Hi, after filing my N-400, I made a prohibited right turn on a red light. I received a ticket from a police officer, and rather than pay the fine, I was granted deferred judgment, where I just paid court administration fees (same $$ as the fine itself). If I maintain a good record for 12 months, it won't appear on my driving record.

My first question is this - in the interview I will obviously have to disclose it. But will it be a problem as the matter is "deferred," i.e. still open? I obviously can't show that the fine has been paid, but I can bring the letter showing deferred adjudication (I'm in Seattle, by the way).

Also, before the interview, my wife got a ticket from a camera for running a red light. I paid the fine, but it registered my name, not my wife's, as the payee - it therefore shows up online as under my name. It was not issued by a law enforcement officer (it was from an automatic camera), so I did not answer "yes" when asked if I had ever been "cited by a law enforcement officer." Will this be an issue?

Thanks in advance!!!

Yep, just declare it. They won't care as long as you do that.

[milesinfront 2]

Thanks. I got nervous after reading another post from today about someone who got a similar "deferred judgment" on a ticket, mentioned it at the ceremony, and was turned away from the ceremony after being told she would have been better off just paying it. The ticket was after her interview.

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

Thanks. I got nervous after reading another post from today about someone who got a similar "deferred judgment" on a ticket, mentioned it at the ceremony, and was turned away from the ceremony after being told she would have been better off just paying it. The ticket was after her interview.

Because she has it pending, they want to see the final outcome.

[JimmyHou 611]

You are in the same situation as that other poster; The final judgment on your case is still pending. It's not true that the interviewer will not be interested in this issue. There are dozens of cases on here where people were given an RFE and asked to send in proof of final disposition of traffic tickets. I know that the interviewer is not supposed to ask for that, and I know that the naturalization guide clearly says that you are not required to submit proof for traffic violations that are not DUI related and are under $500. Regardless, applicant after applicant has been delayed at the interview stage for not providing final court documents for traffic tickets. It really depends on your interviewer. The best thing would have been to pay the fine and show the final receipt and dismissal documents. I have no idea how your interviewer will react, he may not even ask about a traffic violation, he may accept your explanation of deferred judgment (if you have anything to show this, take it with you), or he may insist on seeing a final court judgment

My guess is that if you have a copy of the order or ruling and a receipt stating that you have paid the court fees and that you need to keep a clean record for a year, that will probably be good enough.

Edited March 3, 2015 by JimmyHou

[milesinfront 2]

To be honest, sometimes I think it's best to not seek an answer from these forums. I remember when I was applying for my K1 Visa - there was an issue I had to disclose - I had so many contradictory responses my head was spinning. It was granted with minimal discussion. The nights I stayed awake thinking about that - the time I wasted - I don't want to go through that again. So thanks for the responses. I'm done with stressing out over this thing.

[JimmyHou 611]

To be honest, sometimes I think it's best to not seek an answer from these forums. I remember when I was applying for my K1 Visa - there was an issue I had to disclose - I had so many contradictory responses my head was spinning. It was granted with minimal discussion. The nights I stayed awake thinking about that - the time I wasted - I don't want to go through that again. So thanks for the responses. I'm done with stressing out over this thing.

None of us are experts, all we can do is tell you what we would do in your situation.

Personally, I'd rather have too much information than too little, but in the end, I will make my own decision.

Best of luck to you.

[CowBoE 429]

To be honest, sometimes I think it's best to not seek an answer from these forums. I remember when I was applying for my K1 Visa - there was an issue I had to disclose - I had so many contradictory responses my head was spinning. It was granted with minimal discussion. The nights I stayed awake thinking about that - the time I wasted - I don't want to go through that again. So thanks for the responses. I'm done with stressing out over this thing.

This is why there is a saying in Asia ... "when you rescue someone from drowning, they will sue you for the bag that was not retrieved" ...

What a thankless comment to those that took time to answer the question to their best ability.

It's your responsibility to do the background research

and to check validity of "free of charge" answers you get here.

Yes, I think you should not post here and wasted folks time.

[milesinfront 2]

Dualityoneness - I'm sorry you are so sensitive; also, I think you misread my comment - it was not "thankless" - I specifically said thanks, and meant it (maybe you want to read my post a little more slowly). My decision is made purely to maintain personal peace of mind, and to stop my head from spinning. Anyway, in England we also have a saying:

Better untaught then ill taught.

I'll leave you to look that one up.

Cheerio!

Edited March 3, 2015 by milesinfront

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

Maybe one day there will be a thread in the hot topics section that doesn't have arguing in it. Maybe.

Good luck with your naturalization OP.