If there's no record of a traffic ticket, does it exist?

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There are so many labels and names for different severities of criminal acts: Violation, misdemeanor, infraction, nuisance, infridgement, offence, felony, 'crime involving moral turpitude' and these are just some of the categories used in some of the English speaking countries. The categorization of a specific act is very likely to differ between different jurisdictions, e.g. even between different US states, and if you also consider all other legal systems in other countries, it is obvious that it is impossible for a layman traveller to understand all aspects and facets of this subject.

If a country you are visiting is interested in details about your criminal record, but only records above a specific severity, it is usually relevant how the act had been categorized in the country you are seeking to visit and not how the act was categorized in the jurisdiction where you were convicted.

If you are unsure if a record you have is of significance, you have a few options:

  • If you fill out a visa application, the application has a yes/no question in the sense of 'have you ever been involved in shady activies' and the application allows you to provide details, I would in your case have answered 'yes' and then told that I have been fined for 'crossing a solid white line on a highway'.

  • If you fill out a visa application, the application has a yes/no question in the sense of 'have you ever been involved in shady activies' and you have no option providing any details about the act and it is not obvious that the act may be of relevance, I would first have tried to contact a consulate or embassy of the country I seek to visit, to clarify if you have to reveal it in your application.

Answering 'no' just because you think that the act is of no relevance can easily be deemed as deception and both lead to rejection of your current application and a following lengthy entry ban, even if the act itself would have been irrelevant if you had revealed it.

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