Should I mention minor traffic tickets in N-400?

[qfbariza 26]

There is a question in the N-400 online application (applying under 3 year rule, married to US citizen):

 

"Have you EVER been arrested, cited, or detained by any law enforcement officer (including any immigration official or any official of the U.S. armed forces) for any reason?"

 

I have two minor traffic citations: 1) lights off at night, 2) improper right turn  (turned right not the closest lane from me). I also have two parking ticket (parking in the wrong place). All traffic and parking tickets have been paid and none of them involved alcohol, I did not had to appear in court.

 

Should I answer yes to that question? Which tickets should mention? Traffic tickets and parking tickets or only traffic tickets? or none?

My 36 month traffic record does not show any of them because it happened more than 3 years ago. I no longer live in that state so I would have to travel to request a 5 year driving record if needed.

 

Thanks!

[marriedtomrg 141]

Yes, you have to list them all, including the dates and the outcomes.

 

On the instructions it says you do not need to provide documents unless you paid a fine greater than $300 and/or it involved DUI or property damage.

 

In my case however I had a speeding ticket and I attended a basic driver improvement course and paid a $140 fine but the officer still asked for documents.

 

Better to have the documents than not.

[Amadia 711]

Yes. You need to declare your citations...all of them, no matter how minor YOU may think it be.

[florida racer 73 200]

You received a citation so yes you must disclose the tickets, it may not show up on your driving abstract but there will be a record

[OnlyTheBrave 5]

Yes, you have to mention traffic tickets. Provide details in Q29 (date-place-resolution)

[SleepyPanda 10]

I have a question on this topic:

 

I answered no on Question 29 because i assumed that minor traffic violations under $500 did not count.

I have a record of all my tickets (only 4). Should I bring them to my interview and disclose that I do have citations to disclose -OR- bring them with me and don't mention it?

[ksp9 19]

1 hour ago, SleepyPanda said:

I have a question on this topic:

 

I answered no on Question 29 because i assumed that minor traffic violations under $500 did not count.

I have a record of all my tickets (only 4). Should I bring them to my interview and disclose that I do have citations to disclose -OR- bring them with me and don't mention it?

Yes you will be given a chance to correct it. So you can update during your interview. I went through the same situation even though I just had 1 ticket. So no worries please bring in your documentation only provide if asked for it.

 

So certainly ensure to correct it to "YES" during your interview. Make a check list now itself as you might forget as the interview schedules take some time.

 

Good luck.

[SleepyPanda 10]

1 hour ago, ksp9 said:

Yes you will be given a chance to correct it. So you can update during your interview. I went through the same situation even though I just had 1 ticket. So no worries please bring in your documentation only provide if asked for it.

 

So certainly ensure to correct it to "YES" during your interview. Make a check list now itself as you might forget as the interview schedules take some time.

 

Good luck.

Thank you. Good information.

I will play by the rules of the game but i think that reporting minor traffic violations is silly. Plus they do a thorough background check and would anything recorded by a city, state agency,

 

[OnlyTheBrave 5]

28 minutes ago, SleepyPanda said:

Thank you. Good information.

I will play by the rules of the game but i think that reporting minor traffic violations is silly. Plus they do a thorough background check and would anything recorded by a city, state agency,

 

It does seem silly but I guess they test your honesty that way. Technically, if you lie to the federal government, it’s a felony. 

[Haideraaz 19]

On 7/15/2018 at 9:17 PM, SleepyPanda said:

Thank you. Good information.

I will play by the rules of the game but i think that reporting minor traffic violations is silly. Plus they do a thorough background check and would anything recorded by a city, state agency,

 

traffic violation is not silly .. it does indicate how much you are going smooth with country rules and if you're going to obey them when you are a citizen .. Good luck

[SleepyPanda 10]

11 minutes ago, Haideraaz said:

traffic violation is not silly .. it does indicate how much you are going smooth with country rules and if you're going to obey them when you are a citizen .. Good luck

I disagree..they are called minor for a reason as well as the $500.00 fine threshold USCUS added to provide supporting evidence. I do not think it truly determines if you 'going smoothly' with a country.

There are tons of examples of moving violations that are so insignificant but 'should be reported' such as going 31mph in a 25mph zone, muffler too loud, left tail light out...etc. These are things that can be cited on a day to day basis while living your life and still being completely upstanding person residing in a country.

But thanks for the good luck and same to you.; we will all need it.

[Haideraaz 19]

4 minutes ago, SleepyPanda said:

I disagree..they are called minor for a reason as well as the $500.00 fine threshold USCUS added to provide supporting evidence. I do not think it truly determines if you 'going smoothly' with a country.

There are tons of examples of moving violations that are so insignificant but 'should be reported' such as going 31mph in a 25mph zone, muffler too loud, left tail light out...etc. These are things that can be cited on a day to day basis while living your life and still being completely upstanding person residing in a country.

But thanks for the good luck and same to you.; we will all need it.

 I had a friend who got stuck in background check  for extra 2-3 months because of A "" Minor ""  traffic violation and they actually called him to make sure he presented the right papers . It's not my point of view but that's what I actually saw . It does not prevent you from getting citizenship after all but Could delay it .. the USCIS is never predicted . 

Again it's just my point of view .. it might not apply to you .. I was just explaining why it's not silly as you described it

 

[SleepyPanda 10]

2 minutes ago, Haideraaz said:

 I had a friend who got stuck in background check  for extra 2-3 months because of A "" Minor ""  traffic violation and they actually called him to make sure he presented the right papers . It's not my point of view but that's what I actually saw . It does not prevent you from getting citizenship after all but Could delay it .. the USCIS is never predicted . 

Again it's just my point of view .. it might not apply to you .. I was just explaining why it's not silly as you described it

 

Of course there will be cases such as your friend. When I state that they are silly; I am not referring to whether or not the USCIS will possibly make an issue out of it. With USCIS and the officer assigned to your case; anything is possible. I am referring to the fact that it has to be reported, mentioned, answered in the first place. Like your friend, most people pay their traffic violations and move on because if you don't it can result in your license being suspended and a bench warrant for your arrest. 

[semsem 19]

I have a question about my only two traffic tickets:

1- A fixation ticket due to the right headlight was off while driving at night, do I need to mention it? it was fixed and paid the court fees $25. No case at all.

2- A speed ticket for a speed over 100/mph, I have already mentioned it and it was paid off in full. Does it impact the N-400 application? or the naturalization decision? 

[SleepyPanda 10]

29 minutes ago, semsem said:

I have a question about my only two traffic tickets:

1- A fixation ticket due to the right headlight was off while driving at night, do I need to mention it? it was fixed and paid the court fees $25. No case at all.

2- A speed ticket for a speed over 100/mph, I have already mentioned it and it was paid off in full. Does it impact the N-400 application? or the naturalization decision? 

 

I think if you don't surpass the $500.00 fine limit that you should be fine but it is truly up to the IO discretion.

That 100 mph ticket sounds like an interesting story.