<p>When I was 16, I recieved a $65 ticket for an illegal turn. I didn’t take the STOP class to wipe it off my record (the class costs $90). On one of the forms it asks:
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CITED, ARRESTED, CONVICTED, OR FINED FOR ANY VIOLATION OF THE LAW?</p>
<p>This would fall under that category, right?</p>
<p>It then says:
IF YES, *REQUIRED, COMPLETE THE BOX BELOW WITH A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE INCIDENT(S), STATE NAME AND PLACE OF COURT, NATURE OF OFFENSE, DATE, DISPOSITION OF CASE (IF SELECTED AS A CADET, IN ORDER TO GRANT A SECURITY CLEARANCE, A COMPLETE BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION WILL BE MADE, FAILURE TO REPORT ANY SUCH INCIDENT MAY BE GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL).</p>
<p>I never went to court, but is paying a ticket considered a guilty plea?</p>
<p>Paying a ticket is not an automatic "guilty". How did you plead?</p>
<p>There are four types of pleading available for a ticket.<br>
Guilty - I made a mistake, here's my money, raise my insurance.<br>
Guilty with an explanation - I made a mistake, but let me tell you why, before I give you my money, and you raise my insurance.<br>
NoloContender - "No Contest". All right I'm guilty, but I just don't want to tell you. Here's my money, raise my insurance."<br>
NOT Guilty - This is most of our tickets... :)</p>
<p>Not guilty does not necessarily mean that you did not commit the crime. All it means is that the Prosecutor now has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the crime. The Prosecution has "burden of proof". Most folks that know they did wrong pay the fine under NoloContender. If you're not sure, mention it to make sure your being totally transparent.</p>
<p>The reason I ask is that I caused in accident when I did it. (No one hurt, totaled my car, but barely even bent the bumper of the truck that the other guy was driving). The thing is, it looks really bad that I caused an accident. I've learned from it, and now I believe I'm one of the safest drivers out there. Do I include the fact that there was an accident, too?
Also, I'm not sure what I did. I just gave the cash to my parents and they took care of it. I'm pretty sure it was guilty.</p>
<p>Nebraska law considers payment of the fine to be the same as an admission of your guilt. Most state DMV/MVA laws work the same way - pay the fine as listed on the ticket = a guilty plea. Consult a traffic attorney if in doubt.</p>
<p>packermatt7, don't sweat it - list the offense and the explanation and move on, a $65 traffic ticket is no big deal.</p>
<p>I'm an academy ALO and have dealt with this before.</p>
<p>First: come clean. If there is a record in ANY court's jurisdiction, "we" will find it when the security clearance paperwork starts. And as has been said before, you do NOT want to be called in to explain "after the fact." </p>
<p>In truth...with nobody hurt, and no criminal charges (a traffic violation is not a criminal charge) this is a non-event. Fully explain it and also TELL YOUR ALO!!!! I can't stress this enough. Let him/her know and explain it clearly: I screwed up, etc...etc...</p>
<p>PM, we ALL make mistakes. Making a minor mistake (and this will be considered minor) hasn't hurt anybody's ability to hold a Security Clearance or prevent some one from serving. Different story for BIG mistakes. (Getting into a car accident and getting ticketed for it is minor, falling alseep with nuclear codes in your possession is BIIIIIIG)</p>
<p>Also a different story for a CRIME. Small mistakes aren't criminal (if not a trend), but if you hide the fact you made a mistake, or lie to cover it up, then it is a CRIME (something I've had to tell some junior members serving under me a couple of times). Good leaders forgive mistakes (and find ways to prevent them from happening again), but we punish crimes....</p>
<p>Bottom Line: fess up, admit you made a mistake, and move on. The Academy's admission folks will do the same for you; they will note it and move on. Not a big deal.</p>
<p>I always wondered how those fighter pilots were on the ground ;) .<br>
Anyway, thanks for the advice everyone. It does sound cliche, but I learned a ton from it. I learned a lot about myself, too. I was T-Boned, and if the truck had hit my car a few feet towards the front, I'd probably had had some broken ribs, leg, and who else knows.
Again, thanks.</p>