N400 Application Question

[Island 0]

Hi,

I greatly appreciate it if someone with experience can give me advice regarding the following,

A couple of years back I received a red-light violation in the mail. I did not dispute and just paid it. Later, I obtained a detailed driving record and also requested for any violations, but DMV letter came with no violation or citation for my car or myself.

When I read N400 application, I saw a question asking the following:

“Have you EVER been arrested, cited, or detained by any law enforcement officer (including immigration official or any official officer of the US armed forces) for any reason?  YES  NO”

Regarding my above situation, what should I pick? Is red-light violation considered as a citation since it is not given by any law enforcement officer, but via an automated camera system (third party organization)?

Thank you!

[Crazy Cat 39,531]

5 minutes ago, Island said:

Hi,

I greatly appreciate it if someone with experience can give me advice regarding the following,

A couple of years back I received a red-light violation in the mail. I did not dispute and just paid it. Later, I obtained a detailed driving record and also requested for any violations, but DMV letter came with no violation or citation for my car or myself.

When I read N400 application, I saw a question asking the following:

“Have you EVER been arrested, cited, or detained by any law enforcement officer (including immigration official or any official officer of the US armed forces) for any reason?  YES  NO”

Regarding my above situation, what should I pick? Is red-light violation considered as a citation since it is not given by any law enforcement officer, but via an automated camera system (third party organization)?

Thank you!

It is a citation.......this USCIS document addresses traffic citations (question # 10)  https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/nativedocuments/July2008Q%26A.pdf

[Loren Y 2,737]

I would go with no. It was a piece of electronic equipment, not a law enforcement officer, so I'm sure a no answer will be fine. Those things are nothing but a money maker for the camera companies. They get about 90% of the fine, city gets the other 10% for letting them use them in the city.

[Going through 5,668]

Disclose it in your application, make it clear what the violation was for in the explanation section, and keep proof of payment (if requested by the IO during your interview).  It is a minor traffic moving violation and will not hinder your process in any way, so don't worry about that part.

 

If the fine was less than $500, you do not have to submit any documentation regarding any traffic violations, but you still have to disclose it.

[Amadia 711]

I would agree with @missileman and @Going through. However, denying it and putting 'no' like @Loren Y suggested could very well hurt your case. Just be honest and disclose what happened.

[Crazy Cat 39,531]

30 minutes ago, Going through said:

Disclose it in your application, make it clear what the violation was for in the explanation section, and keep proof of payment (if requested by the IO during your interview).  It is a minor traffic moving violation and will not hinder your process in any way, so don't worry about that part.

 

If the fine was less than $500, you do not have to submit any documentation regarding any traffic violations, but you still have to disclose it.

I agree 100%. 

[Loren Y 2,737]

Does this look like any " Law enforcement officer" you have had a conversation with. I personally wouldn't mention it, but I guess to be safe feel free to include it. Just yesterday I put a empty can of soda into my regular trash can and not the recycle bin. I'm a Baaaaad Man.

[Amadia 711]

17 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

Just yesterday I put a empty can of soda into my regular trash can and not the recycle bin. I'm a Baaaaad Man.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Giving the poster accurate info is what we try to do. You say don't, others say do. Pick your sarcasm up and move on.

[florida racer 73 200]

19 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

Does this look like any " Law enforcement officer" you have had a conversation with. I personally wouldn't mention it, but I guess to be safe feel free to include it. Just yesterday I put a empty can of soda into my regular trash can and not the recycle bin. I'm a Baaaaad Man.

It is still a citation and a valid legal ticket. The is a record of it. You have to disclose it

[Loren Y 2,737]

I just don't see this as a qualification. Now, if you look at the other post just posted where he was caught driving without lights, improper right turn, and a few parking tickets who asked this exact same question about 10 min. ago. I would definitely advise him to mention it in the application. He was stopped by a " Law enforcement officer" and had interaction with such, so it should be mentioned. And there is so much controversy over whether or not red light tickets are legal to enforce. I wouldn't mention it, But that is just my opinion as has been pointed out. and as OP has stated it is not on his driving record at all, so how would they find out about it? I need one of those crystal balls USCIS has that seems to send fear into anyone trying to become a citizen.

Edited July 15, 2018 by Loren Y

[Crazy Cat 39,531]

2 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

I just don't see this as a qualification. Now, if you look at the other post just posted where he was caught driving without lights, improper right turn, and a few parking tickets who asked this exact same question about 10 min. ago. I would definitely advise him to mention it in the application. He was stopped by a " Law enforcement officer" and had interaction with such, so it should be mentioned. And there is so much controversy over whether or not red light tickets are legal to enforce. I wouldn't mention it, But that is just my opinion as has been pointed out.

I just read, on an attorney web site, that if you go to court for a traffic light camera citation, an officer will appear before the judge.  They schedule all those camera cases on the same day, so the same officer testifies for every case..........

[Calicolom 265]

Don't pay the Machine and see what happens.

[Loren Y 2,737]

The laws all vary by state. I encourage the original poster to check his state laws. In Texas red light cameras have been deemed unconstitutional. Will be interesting to see how this plays out.

 

Photo enforcement tickets such as, Red Light Cameras, Speed ticket cameras and school bus cameras  violate your due process rights. Don't reward the criminals by paying their extortion!

 

Several states ban photo enforcement citing violations of your constitutional rights. Many more court cases including one here in Texas have ruled the program is unconstitutional!

 

Class action lawsuits that will likely shut down photo enforcement are working through the court system now!

[csk2b1 44]

I received a letter through the mail stating that I had turned right on a red light without coming to a full stop first. It included photographic evidence of the same. 

 

It was a letter from the local <what I would call> "council" and it clearly stated within that letter that this was not a citation and would only turn into one if I didn't pay the $70 fine. It also stated that there would be no record on my drivers license (again, unless I did not pay the fine and then the matter would be handed over to the local sheriff department).

[Loren Y 2,737]

2 minutes ago, Calicolom said:

Don't pay the Machine and see what happens.

Failure to pay a camera ticket; 

 

• Cannot go on your credit
• Cannot lead to an arrest 
• Cannot go on your driving record
• Cannot go on your insurance

This has been proved in many court cases.