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Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:04 am
by bdm261
Quick C&F question, got a speeding citation today. 42 in the 25 zone. Wasn't paying attention to the speedometer.
Anyways, I already applied to some schools and was accepted to 3. What's the procedure for keeping my C&F current? Do I need to write an addendum to the schools that require traffic citation disclosures, or just send an e-mail or do anything?
Also, this brings my total citations to 5. Will it screw up any chances I have at the schools that haven't made a decision yet? And this certainly won't make any school rescind any admissions offer, correct?
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:06 am
by laxbrah420
Email admissions and ask them the procedure
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:29 am
by elblufer
Something tells me that law school admissions deans couldn't care one bit about a speeding ticket.
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:39 am
by LegalMikey
Doubt they care, but did you file a previous addendum for the other 4? Having to follow up "...and I've since learned my lesson" with an extra speeding ticket might be kind of awkward.
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 1:12 am
by Cellar-door
Check the applications, schools that don't require you disclose minor traffic citations (UVA I know doesn't for example) obviously don't. Anyone who asked you to reveal those you should probably email, unlikely to make a difference so might as well cove your ass.
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 1:33 am
by 20130312
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 2:16 am
by bdm261
LegalMikey wrote:Doubt they care, but did you file a previous addendum for the other 4? Having to follow up "...and I've since learned my lesson" with an extra speeding ticket might be kind of awkward.
I wrote something like:
"I have been driving for X years and have received X moving violations in that time period. None of these infractions were drug or alcohol related, nor did any result in the suspension of my driver's license. All of these incidents resulted in minor fines, all of which were paid promptly."
It doesn't express any remorse or anything, if I write a followup should I be ok?
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 2:31 am
by Buck.Shot
You should stop acting like a total cunt.
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 2:33 am
by PDaddy
Cellar-door wrote:Check the applications, schools that don't require you disclose minor traffic citations (UVA I know doesn't for example) obviously don't. Anyone who asked you to reveal those you should probably email, unlikely to make a difference so might as well cove your ass.
Speeding is NOT a minor violation. A broken tail light or past due license tab is.
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 3:55 am
by Systematic1
Fight it.
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 1:10 pm
by oaken
I had a dream the other night that I was driving at 15 MPH in a 14 MPH zone and got a speeding ticket for it. I was furious.
HTH.
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 1:49 pm
by Cellar-door
PDaddy wrote:Cellar-door wrote:Check the applications, schools that don't require you disclose minor traffic citations (UVA I know doesn't for example) obviously don't. Anyone who asked you to reveal those you should probably email, unlikely to make a difference so might as well cove your ass.
Speeding is NOT a minor violation. A broken tail light or past due license tab is.
What makes you say that? I'm a Massachusetts resident and the state considers speeding a minor traffic violation:
http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/rmv/Meri ... tions.aspx
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 1:53 pm
by elblufer
Cellar-door wrote:PDaddy wrote:Cellar-door wrote:Check the applications, schools that don't require you disclose minor traffic citations (UVA I know doesn't for example) obviously don't. Anyone who asked you to reveal those you should probably email, unlikely to make a difference so might as well cove your ass.
Speeding is NOT a minor violation. A broken tail light or past due license tab is.
What makes you say that? I'm a Massachusetts resident and the state considers speeding a minor traffic violation:
http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/rmv/Meri ... tions.aspx
As does California
http://www.dmv.org/ca-california/point-system.php
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 1:59 pm
by AlanShore
oaken wrote:I had a dream the other night that I was driving at 15 MPH in a 14 MPH zone and got a speeding ticket for it. I was furious.
HTH.
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:15 pm
by bdm261
Ok so just one of the schools that admitted me requires disclosure of traffic citations.
I sent my schools Admissions dept this following email:
To Whom it May Concern:
I am writing to update my Character and Fitness disclosure status as I received a speeding citation on Friday, December 10, 2012.
Currently, the fine of approximately $100 has not been paid, as it is not due until 7 days after the scheduled court date of Dec 19, 2012, but it will be paid in timely accordance with the deadline.
I accept full responsibility for my actions and I do not plan to contest the citation.
Thank You.
Sincerely,
My Name
LSAC# LXXXXXXX
Hopefully this doesn't screw anything up. Is a citation every 2 years considered "excessive"?
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:24 pm
by elblufer
they're not going to care about your speeding tickets. It's not going to hurt you in the slightest.
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:32 pm
by bdm261
elblufer wrote:they're not going to care about your speeding tickets. It's not going to hurt you in the slightest.
I hope so. My school's "Admissions FAQ" page says this:
Why do you ask about parking and minor traffic violations on the application?
We ask this for two reasons. One is for the sake of consistency. As noted above, if there are inconsistencies between the admission application and the bar exam application, this can cause problems when it is time to apply to take the bar exam.
The second is a character issue. On rare occasions, the Admissions Committee comes in contact with an applicant that believes that traffic and parking laws do not apply to them. This suggests a disregard for the law, which is a serious problem for someone considering becoming a lawyer, and could adversely affect the admission decision made by the Admissions Committee.
I hardly believe the laws don't apply to me. I just wasn't paying attention to the speedometer and didn't realize I was speeding until I passed a cop.
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 2:45 pm
by oaken
bdm261 wrote:elblufer wrote:they're not going to care about your speeding tickets. It's not going to hurt you in the slightest.
I hope so. My school's "Admissions FAQ" page says this:
Why do you ask about parking and minor traffic violations on the application?
We ask this for two reasons. One is for the sake of consistency. As noted above, if there are inconsistencies between the admission application and the bar exam application, this can cause problems when it is time to apply to take the bar exam.
The second is a character issue. On rare occasions, the Admissions Committee comes in contact with an applicant that believes that traffic and parking laws do not apply to them. This suggests a disregard for the law, which is a serious problem for someone considering becoming a lawyer, and could adversely affect the admission decision made by the Admissions Committee.
I hardly believe the laws don't apply to me. I just wasn't paying attention to the speedometer and didn't realize I was speeding until I passed a cop.
I wonder if they're referring to people who have like dozens of tickets, or ones who go out of their way to write that they didn't deserve them.
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 4:17 pm
by dproduct
Systematic1 wrote:Fight it.
Or if this is your first one... Pay for traffic school and get it off your record. Done.
ETA: You would want to exercise this option regardless of law school to save your insurance rates.
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 4:34 pm
by kuttlefish
bdm261 wrote:
I hope so. My school's "Admissions FAQ" page says this:
Why do you ask about parking and minor traffic violations on the application?
We ask this for two reasons. One is for the sake of consistency. As noted above, if there are inconsistencies between the admission application and the bar exam application, this can cause problems when it is time to apply to take the bar exam.
The second is a character issue. On rare occasions, the Admissions Committee comes in contact with an applicant that believes that traffic and parking laws do not apply to them. This suggests a disregard for the law, which is a serious problem for someone considering becoming a lawyer, and could adversely affect the admission decision made by the Admissions Committee.
Jesus Christ, what dork-ass school is that? BYU?
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 4:43 pm
by cynthiad
kuttlefish wrote:bdm261 wrote:
I hope so. My school's "Admissions FAQ" page says this:
Why do you ask about parking and minor traffic violations on the application?
We ask this for two reasons. One is for the sake of consistency. As noted above, if there are inconsistencies between the admission application and the bar exam application, this can cause problems when it is time to apply to take the bar exam.
The second is a character issue. On rare occasions, the Admissions Committee comes in contact with an applicant that believes that traffic and parking laws do not apply to them. This suggests a disregard for the law, which is a serious problem for someone considering becoming a lawyer, and could adversely affect the admission decision made by the Admissions Committee.
Jesus Christ, what dork-ass school is that? BYU?
I could see that if someone had dozens of tickets, and didn't pay them off in a timely matter, it could affect the decision. Just like one dorm violation for underage drinking doesn't matter, but many suggests a pattern.
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 2:58 pm
by scruffy556
kuttlefish wrote:bdm261 wrote:
I hope so. My school's "Admissions FAQ" page says this:
Why do you ask about parking and minor traffic violations on the application?
We ask this for two reasons. One is for the sake of consistency. As noted above, if there are inconsistencies between the admission application and the bar exam application, this can cause problems when it is time to apply to take the bar exam.
The second is a character issue. On rare occasions, the Admissions Committee comes in contact with an applicant that believes that traffic and parking laws do not apply to them. This suggests a disregard for the law, which is a serious problem for someone considering becoming a lawyer, and could adversely affect the admission decision made by the Admissions Committee.
Jesus Christ, what dork-ass school is that? BYU?
Google says it's the University of Akron.
Re: Speeding Ticket: Now What?
Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 4:11 pm
by bdm261
scruffy556 wrote:kuttlefish wrote:bdm261 wrote:
I hope so. My school's "Admissions FAQ" page says this:
Why do you ask about parking and minor traffic violations on the application?
We ask this for two reasons. One is for the sake of consistency. As noted above, if there are inconsistencies between the admission application and the bar exam application, this can cause problems when it is time to apply to take the bar exam.
The second is a character issue. On rare occasions, the Admissions Committee comes in contact with an applicant that believes that traffic and parking laws do not apply to them. This suggests a disregard for the law, which is a serious problem for someone considering becoming a lawyer, and could adversely affect the admission decision made by the Admissions Committee.
Jesus Christ, what dork-ass school is that? BYU?
Google says it's the University of Akron.
Yep.
What exactly is a "pattern" though? I have a total of 5 citations on my record since age 16, that amounts to one ticket, every two years. I e-mailed the school and didn't receive anything back so I assume they just added it to my file or whatever, at least I did my part here.
