Citizenship Interview

[mehnik]

So what would you guys advise, I should just get a copy of my driving record from the local NYC DMV office right, that would clearly show that all my traffic fines were paid in time and there are no outstanding claims?

 

[WBH]

So what would you guys advise, I should just get a copy of my driving record from the local NYC DMV office right, that would clearly show that all my traffic fines were paid in time and there are no outstanding claims?

Present certified court documents and perhaps receitps to prove all
fined are paid.

Don't worry too much about DL suspension but do get preapred if
the IO tough this issue. I believe IO lives in NYC too and he may even
ask you "Have you got you licence suspended" if he see too many tickets
during such short period.

 

[WBH]

Hey WBH, to answer your question from before, the table after question 21 on the N-400 asks if the applicant has ever been arrested, cited, detained or charged and these relate to questions 15-21, none of which talks of a driving offense, they are all relating to crimes/jail etc. to which I answered "No" in each case hence there was no mention of a suspended license of any traffic tickets on my N-400.

Driving offense are offense you need to disclose.

 

[Vorpal]

DMV is not the only place that keep track of traffic violations. County courts
and local police who issue tickets have their own records. They may or may not report traffic violatiosn to FBIs.

How did the DMV know a traffic violation? It was reported by local police and local court in the first place.

Again, that depends on the municipality. In New York, a police officer fills out the traffic violation in triplicate. One copy is issued to the offender, one is kept by the officer, and the last one is sent directly to the Traffic Violations Bureau in Albany, which is under the DMV umbrella.

Keep in mind that if the local police actually reported traffic tickets to the FBI, there would be a whole lot more name check victims...a WHOLE LOT more.

 

[mehnik]

Present certified court documents and perhaps receitps to prove all
fined are paid.

Don't worry too much about DL suspension but do get preapred if
the IO tough this issue. I believe IO lives in NYC too and he may even
ask you "Have you got you licence suspended" if he see too many tickets
during such short period.

How would i get court documents and receipts? I paid most fines online, might just be able to get proof from my bank account that the money was paid. I have my interview in mid-march, getthis all this information from the court etc. might be a long process, and I have never been to a court here, so I am totally clueless on how to get all that information.

 

[Vorpal]

How would i get court documents and receipts? I paid most fines online, might just be able to get proof from my bank account that the money was paid. I have my interview in mid-march, getthis all this information from the court etc. might be a long process, and I have never been to a court here, so I am totally clueless on how to get all that information.

If you decide to disclose your traffic violations, canceled checks/bank statements showing payments to the traffic violations bureau would be an acceptable proof of payment.

 

[mehnik]

Driving offense are offense you need to disclose.

While filling out my N-400, i was told by many on this forum and elsewhere that I do not need to disclose any traffic fines for under $500. Plus, the questions on N-400 do not even remotely relate to a traffic violation, they are all related to being arrested, committing crimes etc, a speeding ticket is not a criminal offense.

You are making me nervous now cos I did not disclose my traffic tickets on the N-400 at all!!!

 

[WBH]

How would i get court documents and receipts? I paid most fines online, might just be able to get proof from my bank account that the money was paid. I have my interview in mid-march, getthis all this information from the court etc. might be a long process, and I have never been to a court here, so I am totally clueless on how to get all that information.

Unless you traffic tickets are handled by courts speard out across a vast geograpohic area, getting court docuemnts is easy. Just walk in and court clerks will get copies and authenticate it and give it to you. You may need to pay some tiny fees to get copy and that is all.

 

[WBH]

You are making me nervous now cos I did not disclose my traffic tickets on the N-400 at all!!!

That is why you should not come to this forum .

Most of folks wqho do not pairticipate in internet forum do not even bother to disclose traffic tickets and never had trouble because of nondisplsoce.
But people here are different.

Sometimes honesty may not be the best policy for pragmatic purpose.
I beliee that nyc_newbie guy would have got his citizenship appaoved if he simply had not disclosed them and I doubt
not disclosing traffic ticket would lead to de-natualization even if the USCIS got hold of this later

 

[Vorpal]

Unless you traffic tickets are handled by courts speard out across a vast geograpohic area, getting court docuemnts is easy. Just walk in and court clerks will get copies and authenticate it and give it to you. You may need to pay some tiny fees to get copy and that is all.

This is not an option in NYC. The court clerks will tell you that the only way to do it is to obtain a driver abstract (which lists only the previous 3 years' of violations) from the DMV. Believe me, I've tried.

 

[mehnik]

Unless you traffic tickets are handled by courts speard out across a vast geograpohic area, getting court docuemnts is easy. Just walk in and court clerks will get copies and authenticate it and give it to you. You may need to pay some tiny fees to get copy and that is all.

Oh ok, however the problem with that is that these tickets were issues in various counties in upstate NY, beyond albany. Going up to the courts in those counties will be a pain.

 

[WBH]

This is not an option in NYC. The court clerks will tell you that the only way to do it is to obtain a driver abstract (which lists only the previous 3 years' of violations) from the DMV. Believe me, I've tried.

That is weird. I thought all courts records are open to the public and anyone ha sthe right to acccess.

 

[Vorpal]

That is weird. I thought all courts records are open to the public and anyone ha sthe right to acccess.

This is because conventional courts don't handle traffic violations in New York. The information from these courts is transferred directly to the traffic violations bureau.

 

[WBH]

Oh ok, however the problem with that is that these tickets were issues in various counties in upstate NY, beyond albany. Going up to the courts in those counties will be a pain.

Do as much as you can. Call them. They may ask you to send a letter with a check. Once they receive yoru letter, they can send you copies. You can
most likelymee dthe deadline since you have whole february to do this.

 

[WBH]

This is because conventional courts don't handle traffic violations in New York. The information from these courts is transferred directly to the traffic violations bureau.

I thought 6th amendment appplies to traffic violation too that is the trial should be a public trial and public trial means anyone can demand access to court records.

 

[Vorpal]

I thought 6th amendment appplies to traffic violation too that is the trial should be a public trial and public trial means anyone can demand access to court records.

In this case, it's an administrative hearing, not a criminal trial.