Question about traffic conviction and if I have to report it.

[Medikit]

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For those unfamiliar with the University of Vermont's policies I have to report any conviction other than a parking ticket. Here is a quote:

Parking violations are the only convictions you are not required to document. For speeding tickets: you do not need to list them if they occurred 5 years ago or longer. All other infractions must be listed on the supplemental application, regardless of the amount of time that has passed. In addition, you must include a copy of the police report for each offense. You may obtain a copy of this report from the issuing jurisdiction.

My question is if I really have to report it, here is a copy of my father's report for a conviction for you to compare it to:

Under case status it is considered "closed"

Case Type: SEATBELTS
Filing Date: xx/xx/xx
Disposition Date: xx/xx/xx
BAIL PAID/FORFEITED - CONVICTION

Disposition: xx/xx/xx
BAIL PAID/FORFEITED (CONVICTION)

Here is a copy of my own:

Under case status it is considered "Dismissed"

Case Type: RUNNING STOP LIGHT/SIGN
Filing Date: xx/xx/xx
Disposition Date: xx/xx/xx
TVS COMPLETED


Disposition: xx/xx/xx
TVS COMPLETED; FEES PD; DISMISSED

For an explanation I ran a stop sign a while back, paid the ticket and went to traffic school. Since the case is considered dismissed should I even have to include it? Should I give vermont a call?

 

[getcloned]

when i completed uvm's secondary last year, i thought it said all convictions other than traffic violations, not just parking tickets. i may be wrong, but that's just my memory.

a moving violation like the one you mentioned is not going to hurt you in any way, they just want total disclosure. i would just report it... it will have no effect on your application. 😉

oh and by the way... dismissed means it has been taken care of, not that it didn't happen. by paying you have essentially plead guilty and therefore it is still a conviction.

but one more time... don't sweat it. if that's your only run in with the law you're in good shape 🙄

 

[Mr Reddly]

Are you sure that "it is still a conviction"?
Is it possible that the law is different in different states?

My understanding was that in Cali, by going to traffic school it is off your record (no points).
Thus, it didn't happen. ie, "FEES PD; DISMISSED"

 

[getcloned]

yup... it's still a conviction. just because it's been removed from your record doesn't mean you weren't convicted. it means that it has been removed from your record.

it still happened, the OP plead guilty (FEES PD), and thus was convicted. with due time, or a driving class, the points were taken away. (DISMISSED). it doesn't mean it didn't happen.

on the non-traffic side of things, i had a underage posession of alcohol my freshman year of college. through some connections (g/f's mom is a lawyer) i was able to get it expunged from my record. she said that if the application asks you if any violations are on your record you can say no. but if they ask if you have been convicted, you have to say yes. i still don't understand how they can check, but she probably knows more about it than me.

anyway... a moving violation won't keep you out anyway.

 

[Medikit]

Thanks getcloned, you're a pretty cool guy.

I'll report it, like you said it's nothing to worry about.

 

[Mr Reddly]

Thanks getcloned, you're a pretty cool guy.

What?!? No love for the reddly? 🙁

 

[Bones2008]

yup... it's still a conviction. just because it's been removed from your record doesn't mean you weren't convicted. it means that it has been removed from your record.

it still happened, the OP plead guilty (FEES PD), and thus was convicted. with due time, or a driving class, the points were taken away. (DISMISSED). it doesn't mean it didn't happen.

I realize that this conversation is kinda over, but I wanted to chime in about this. Every state is different in how they handle these things. For example, in all the states I know the traffic laws for (a half-dozen or so), paying a fine going to safety school does NOT result in a conviction. It's just a deferred prosecution arrangement until the school, etc. is completed, at which point the case is dismissed. Methinks there isn't a conviction associated with this charge (but every state is different).

 

[subtle1epiphany]

i'm currently filling out the same application, but i'm not sure where to look for the record and information about my traffic violation. it was a simple and minor speeding ticket (<10 mph over) and it was a while ago before i started keeping all paperwork. do i call the city? or the PD? anyone actually know?

and what does it mean when they ask for the final disposition of the case? the action taken? i mean i paid the ticket...so then i put "paid?" 😕

 

[Code Brown]

i'm currently filling out the same application, but i'm not sure where to look for the record and information about my traffic violation. it was a simple and minor speeding ticket (<10 mph over) and it was a while ago before i started keeping all paperwork. do i call the city? or the PD? anyone actually know?

and what does it mean when they ask for the final disposition of the case? the action taken? i mean i paid the ticket...so then i put "paid?" 😕

I'll probably go over to the PD and then the DMW if that fails. Don't worry, the DMW will have all of your traffic violations. The insurance companies make sure of that (that good driver discount was so good while it lasted).

 

[subtle1epiphany]

yeah, no kidding man, my insurance broke the roof after that.

also, i'm wondering if anyone knows what i should put where it asks for science course labs, since the labs are integrated with the course. i mean leaving it blank seems weird. ever have that itch to fill out every line? 😕

 

[Code Brown]

yeah, no kidding man, my insurance broke the roof after that.

also, i'm wondering if anyone knows what i should put where it asks for science course labs, since the labs are integrated with the course. i mean leaving it blank seems weird. ever have that itch to fill out every line? 😕

I just put the class down twice. The instructions state that as long as it adds up to 8 units (with lab), that will suffice.

 

[gaf]

I went to traffic court and argued my way out of a ticket. The judge said, "Okay, it's dismissed."

"Dismissed," not a conviction that we'll call "dismissed." Dismissed is certainly not a conviction in this case. If you go to court and are offered the opportunity to pay a court fee and go to traffic school in exchange for a dismissal, that's not a conviction either.

Fees are not the same as a fine.

 

[Retroviral]

For speeding tickets, should I enclose a copy of the ticket? Is that considered a police report?

 

[hakksar]

Wow, last year they did not require documentation . . . they just asked you to tell them of every offense (and yes they required any speeding or non-parking traffic ticket to be reported). I think that if you just get a copy of your driving record from your states DMV that would suffice for any traffic violation.