failure to appear in court, what to do? Please help!

S

surfcaster

New Member
In summer of 1998, I got a speeding ticket in California. I forgot to go to the court and pretty much forgot about the whole issue. Last year (2004), Franchise Tax Board suddenly levied my bank account for $450. I called around and found out that it's because of the speeding ticket and failure to appear in court.
I have had no traffic violation since that incident in 1998. Now I am going to apply for citizenship. Is this going to be a problem (failure to appear in court)? Note that the state has taken the money from my bank account already.
How do I fill in the box "Outcome or disposition of the arrest, citation, detention or charge"?
Please help!!
 
Find out if there was a warrant ever for your arrest . You got a ticket so you answer "Yes" and provide the outcome of the case as proof along with N400
 
no warrant

Last time when I spoke to the person in court, he didn't mention a warrant at all. He said lots of people did what I did, and thought the state forgot about them!
So I call him again and get a copy of that record? Is the record required to go with N400, or can I send in N400 without it? (and get the record later if being asked?)
 
surfcaster said:
Last time when I spoke to the person in court, he didn't mention a warrant at all. He said lots of people did what I did, and thought the state forgot about them!
So I call him again and get a copy of that record? Is the record required to go with N400, or can I send in N400 without it? (and get the record later if being asked?)
Click to expand...


Hi,

I forgot to put my traffic violation ticket on N400 and am now going to interview first week of Feb 2005. Unfortunately, I dont even have a copy of fine paid or anything and now since I am running short of time ( only 4 days to IV)..i am not sure what to do.

i will keep you posted as to what happens in my interview.

BTW u have any idea if we can get records of payment of traffic ticket from the court....or the police dept...the same day...?

Please reply if u know how exactly..to get the fine payment record.

Thanks
 
Call the court and ask for an arraignment before a judge. My friend had the same thing happen. No levies, but he was assessed penalties, his license was suspended, et cetera. The first thing the judge told him was "Ok, plead guilty to your traffic violation and I'll sentence you to a fine for it, and dismiss the failure to appear charges." So he just got a regular traffic ticket, paid the fine, and all was gravy. The court can produce abstracts to give to the DMV to cancel the suspension immediately once the judge orders the charges dismissed.


surfcaster said:
In summer of 1998, I got a speeding ticket in California. I forgot to go to the court and pretty much forgot about the whole issue. Last year (2004), Franchise Tax Board suddenly levied my bank account for $450. I called around and found out that it's because of the speeding ticket and failure to appear in court.
I have had no traffic violation since that incident in 1998. Now I am going to apply for citizenship. Is this going to be a problem (failure to appear in court)? Note that the state has taken the money from my bank account already.
How do I fill in the box "Outcome or disposition of the arrest, citation, detention or charge"?
Please help!!
Click to expand...
 
Rahul Kumar said:
You can have the court fax you a copy of their deposition. Explain your urgency to the clerk - talk your way out
Click to expand...


Hi Rahul,

I called the court first thing today morning and they told me to submit a form for production or records and it takes a minimum of 10 days for them to produce.

This 10 day time period is for records which are 2 years or less old because those are the only ones they have on-site.

Records older than 2 years they put it in a storage room....

But one thing she did was....i had faxed her a written request...she gave it back writing on the request......no balance amount pending....took defensive driving in april 2001...thats all...

lets see what happens in the interview...I dont think I have any other options left.....have I..?
 
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