I read the OP's question to mean actual copies of past citations, not DMV driving records.
Speaking of which, I just received my first speeding ticket as a US citizen over the weekend..51 in a 35. At least I don't have to worry about having to divulge it to USCIS.
I am confused about you all's statement. I remember reading in the N400 application that regular speeding tickets need not be mentioned unless the fines are more than 500$. Am i wrong. I did not mention the speeding tickets since it was in the instruction booklet. What is going on I am not sure..
If California's procedures regarding traffic violations is anything like NYS, it would be impossible to obtain records of any violation that's over 3 years old. For instance, NYS has established traffic violations courts that deal exclusively with traffic violations and operate under the authority of the NYS DMV. They don't keep any records of their own. Once a ticket has been purged from a person's driver record, it's as if it never existed.
I live in California. I think I have had 2 minor traffic tickets. Do I have to get some documentation for that from the court? And how do I go about doing that?
The type of denials in article sound more like they were caused by interpretation of moral character by overzealous IOs rather than an enforced USCIS practice.
How about warnings given by the traffic police, for things such as following a car too closely? is that a citation? does it need to be mentioned?
You can read the link Person got Ticket in NJ and was having MD Driving licence and ticket never showed in the NJ Municipal court records or NJ DMV records and NJ Municipal court did not take payment as ticket was not in system.OK this is a wierd situation with my friend. He was ticketed in Up state NY, as it was an out of state ticket, he pleaded not guilty and got an Attorney who plea bargained the ticket down to 4 points.
My friend paid the fine...... and was done. Just recently he was filing his N400 application from NJ and when he requested a DMV record. He noticed that even though it has been well over 2 years the NY state ticket did not show up in his records.
So should he declare it....... he is in question if that was ever reported.
You can read the link Person got Ticket in NJ and was having MD Driving licence and ticket never showed in the NJ Municipal court records or NJ DMV records and NJ Municipal court did not take payment as ticket was not in system.
http://boards.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=262946&highlight=saathia
Exactly, but it is these type of "zealots" that keep it interesting for all of us and keep us worried for no reason.
This reminds me of nyc_newbie's case. Too bad he disappeared from the forum, I'd be very interested to know how his appeal went.
There've been past legal precedents set by Federal courts, establishing that traffic violations do not constitute lack of good moral character. While a denial based on traffic tickets would most likely be overturned on appeal, who wants the hassle?
Also, keep in mind that many IOs don't want applicants to disclose minor traffic violations. As I've mentioned in several previous posts, this is exactly what happened at my oath ceremony. The IO specifically instructed everyone not to list traffic tickets on the back of the oath letters, despite the fact that it asks to disclose them.