what is 'minor traffic violation'?

[year3765]

Hello everyone,

I'm applying for a few law schools and have encountered many times that I was suggested to supply addenda for any arrest or conviction made except for 'minor traffic violation'. I was once arrested for driving with suspended driver's license and arrested and booked in central booking for about 20 hrs until I was arraigned the next day and paid the fine. The license was suspended for not paying the newly imposed reassessment fee for the traffic tickets I had and I was not aware of neither of the new fee nor the fact that my license was suspended. Any one knows if this is something that I need to clarify through addenda or is this something that belongs to the 'minor traffic violation'?
Thank you in advance.

[Anne]

In your situation, particularly given that you were arrested, I would definitely disclose. I classify a "minor traffic violation" to be things such as speeding and other moving violations (such as going straight on a turn lane, for example), neglecting to wear a seatbelt, or parking in a no-park zone. Anything larger than that (such as leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, or a DWI) definitely require disclosure, in my mind. And certainly something for which you were arrested needs disclosure.

If you're still in doubt, go ahead and call the admissions office of the school(s) to which you are applying. I understand that you may not want to let them know of this indiscretion, but it's better to be safe than sorry (and it'll all come out when you do your Character and Fitness review for the bar, anyway, so you may as well disclose now and avoid having to explain why you didn't disclose later).

[LawSchoolGuy]

In your situation, particularly given that you were arrested, I would definitely disclose. I classify a "minor traffic violation" to be things such as speeding and other moving violations (such as going straight on a turn lane, for example), neglecting to wear a seatbelt, or parking in a no-park zone. Anything larger than that (such as leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, or a DWI) definitely require disclosure, in my mind. And certainly something for which you were arrested needs disclosure.

If you're still in doubt, go ahead and call the admissions office of the school(s) to which you are applying. I understand that you may not want to let them know of this indiscretion, but it's better to be safe than sorry (and it'll all come out when you do your Character and Fitness review for the bar, anyway, so you may as well disclose now and avoid having to explain why you didn't disclose later).

+1

If you were arrested, disclose. You have a record now, and if you don't disclose now, you can get into deep trouble later. I was just reading an article by Anna Ivey talking about the issues with non-disclosure, and the consequences are too huge (read: getting acceptances to law school recalled, getting kicked out of law school, getting disbarred) to not disclose.

[LawSchoolGuy]

Here's the article. It will scare you into disclosing everything, I swear.

http://blog.clearadmit.com/law/2011/12/guest-post-from-anna-ivey-misconduct-and-irregularities-in-the-law-school-application-process/

The scariest bit, to me:

If you fail to comply with LSAC’s ethical standards, you may be barred from admission to law school. If you fail to disclose required information on your law school application, or if you engage in misconduct during the admission process that is discovered after you enroll in law school or start to practice law, you may face more serious sanctions. In appropriate cases, state and national bar authorities and other affected persons and institutions may also receive notification. Individual law schools and bar authorities determine what action, if any, they will take in response to a finding of misconduct or irregularity. Such action may include the closing of an admission file, revocation of an offer of admission, dismissal from law school through a school’s internal disciplinary channels, or disbarment.

Disclose, dude. Disclose.

[Anne]

Here's the article. It will scare you into disclosing everything, I swear.

http://blog.clearadmit.com/law/2011/12/guest-post-from-anna-ivey-misconduct-and-irregularities-in-the-law-school-application-process/

The scariest bit, to me:

If you fail to comply with LSAC’s ethical standards, you may be barred from admission to law school. If you fail to disclose required information on your law school application, or if you engage in misconduct during the admission process that is discovered after you enroll in law school or start to practice law, you may face more serious sanctions. In appropriate cases, state and national bar authorities and other affected persons and institutions may also receive notification. Individual law schools and bar authorities determine what action, if any, they will take in response to a finding of misconduct or irregularity. Such action may include the closing of an admission file, revocation of an offer of admission, dismissal from law school through a school’s internal disciplinary channels, or disbarment.

Disclose, dude. Disclose.

That's a good article. Anna Ivey always has good stuff (as well she should, seeing as how she was the UChicago admissions guru! ). My general advice is to always disclose; sure, you may feel uncomfortable doing it, and it may bring up parts of your past that you would really not remember, but it's always better to disclose and be done with it than be freaked out during the application process (and then in law school), fearing that someone will "find out" your negatives and indiscretions. At least if you disclose, you'll be accepted or rejected on your own merits and background, and you won't have to worry about skeletons popping out of your closet at inconvenient times.

[SteelyDan]

I would say come clean and disclose. If you were arrested you have a record, if you have a record you should disclose.

[niharikamittal160]

A "traffic violation" refers to a category of offenses related to people not obeying state or local motor vehicle laws. While the less serious offenses are considered minor traffic violations.

[criminalattorney]

Traffic violations generally come in two main groups, these being minor and major violations. I have been asked by many people several time and they gets confused if they accused for a DUI law violation. I would like to share that the traffic violation is a criminal defense and its results varies from state to state.