Minor traffic tickets - not a "crime"

[tristan]

Here it is
"
Millions of Americans each year, traveling upon our nation’s highways and streets, share in a similar unpleasant experience of getting a traffic ticket. In most states, minor traffic offenses are legally classified as infractions. Infractions are considered legally to be ‘petty offenses’ of the law and not a crime. The commission of an infraction is classified as a non-criminal act and, therefore, the infraction is a ‘civil’ breach of the law.

Full article:
articlesbase.com/law-articles/the-civil-traffic-ticket-it-aint-no-crime-at-least-thats-what-the-state-claims-200760.html[/url]

 

[nkm-oct23]

N-400 does not ask simply about crimes, it asks for all citations and therefore all traffic citations need to be disclosed.

 

[TheRealCanadian]

N-400 does not ask simply about crimes, it asks for all citations and therefore all traffic citations need to be disclosed.

From the N-400 instructions: Note that unless a traffic incident was alcohol or drug related, you do not need to submit documentation for traffic fines and incidents that did not involve an actual arrest if the only penalty was a fine of less than $500 and/or points on your driver's license.

I remain at a loss as to why this is a matter of debate. Disclose the citation, you do not need to submit documentation.

 

[tristan]

I posted it not to debate if you need to disclose it or not but because there was a debate whenever you need to answer a question 15 a as yes (have you ever commited a crime for wich you were not arrested). And people were talking that minor traffic ticket is in that category since it is a crime.

 

[SatPal]

I posted it not to debate if you need to disclose it or not but because there was a debate whenever you need to answer a question 15 a as yes (have you ever commited a crime for wich you were not arrested). And people were talking that minor traffic ticket is in that category since it is a crime.

I would NOT care about traffic violations until its DUI or arrest. I had many speeding tickets including Camera, parking and I did not fill out Citation in N-400. I know these are civil issues and has nothing to do with crime...
Recently, I got my driving record report from DMV and all speeding tickets are not mentioned in the report. Its absolutely clean report with 00 points.

Hope this works!!

 

[nkm-oct23]

I would NOT care about traffic violations until its DUI or arrest. I had many speeding tickets including Camera, parking and I did not fill out Citation in N-400. I know these are civil issues and has nothing to do with crime...
Recently, I got my driving record report from DMV and all speeding tickets are not mentioned in the report. Its absolutely clean report with 00 points.

Hope this works!!

It doesn't matter what you personally did and got away with. N-400 clearly asks if you have ever been cited. A traffic ticket is a citation and therefore the question #16 part D needs to be answered with a YES if one has been ticketed.

 

[Vorpal]

It doesn't matter what you personally did and got away with. N-400 clearly asks if you have ever been cited. A traffic ticket is a citation and therefore the question #16 part D needs to be answered with a YES if one has been ticketed.

A citation is only a citation if it requires a court appearance.

 

[SatPal]

A citation is only a citation if it requires a court appearance.

Hi Vorpal,
This means the traffic violation tickets given by COP or Cameras are NOT Citations if you have paid in time. Right?
One question - I got a ticket for not stopping at red light( I did but could stop well away the stop point as I was at speed, the roads were wet as it was raing), I contested this speeding ticket and appeared in the court. The judge reduced my fine to $40 instead of $75. I paid my fine the same day in the court. So, do you think this is a Citation?

Thx!

 

[WaitingInOK]

My IO said they were crimes

I just had my interview this past Monday and my IO said that my traffic violations were crimes (I had 3, all minor, no DUI, all fines paid, all less than $500). I argued a little, but she ended up changing my answers to Q 16 and 17 to yes. Anyway, I completely agree with the OP, but this is my recent experience.

 

[nkm-oct23]

Hi Vorpal,
This means the traffic violation tickets given by COP or Cameras are NOT Citations if you have paid in time. Right?
One question - I got a ticket for not stopping at red light( I did but could stop well away the stop point as I was at speed, the roads were wet as it was raing), I contested this speeding ticket and appeared in the court. The judge reduced my fine to $40 instead of $75. I paid my fine the same day in the court. So, do you think this is a Citation?

Thx!

The ticket was written by a police officer - then it is a citation. If someone sues you and you go to court, it is not a citation. The question clearly asks "Have you ever been arrested, cited or detained by any law enforcement officer.."

A traffic ticket issued by a cop falls under this category. Even some traffic camera tickets are signed by an officer and therefore are considered citations (IMO)

 

[Vorpal]

The ticket was written by a police officer - then it is a citation. If someone sues you and you go to court, it is not a citation. The question clearly asks "Have you ever been arrested, cited or detained by any law enforcement officer.."

A traffic ticket issued by a cop falls under this category. Even some traffic camera tickets are signed by an officer and therefore are considered citations (IMO)

I respectfully disagree. Based on your logic, parking tickets are citations as well.

Here are some links explaining the definition of citation. In the case of traffic tickets, it clearly states that a citation is a summons to appear in court.

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Citation+(police)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summons#Citation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_ticket

 

[Vorpal]

Hi Vorpal,
This means the traffic violation tickets given by COP or Cameras are NOT Citations if you have paid in time. Right?
One question - I got a ticket for not stopping at red light( I did but could stop well away the stop point as I was at speed, the roads were wet as it was raing), I contested this speeding ticket and appeared in the court. The judge reduced my fine to $40 instead of $75. I paid my fine the same day in the court. So, do you think this is a Citation?

Thx!

Correct. Parking tickets and tickets issued by red light cameras are civil liabilities. The ticket that you received for running a red light is definitely a citation, since you went to court to contest it.