Moral character and driving record? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Seems relevant to legal employment since it could affect my employment...Is one's driving record closely looked at by the committee on moral fitness? I have a negligent driving ticket, and a speeding ticket. I can't imagine that these would do anything, but has anyone heard of stuff like that slowing down the application/being troublesome?

[A. Nony Mouse]

You will likely have to report them to the bar (the states I know of at least ask about this kind of driving history) but they're absolutely not going to care.

[mjb447]

You will likely have to report them to the bar (the states I know of at least ask about this kind of driving history) but they're absolutely not going to care.

+1

[Jay2716]

You will likely have to report them to the bar (the states I know of at least ask about this kind of driving history) but they're absolutely not going to care.

I think this is a little too strong. I had to go to an informal hearing with my state's director of admissions for a 4-year old speeding ticket and two non moving violations, including one that was 9 years old. I don't want to worry the op, because I am from a state with a notoriously strict C&F, but they made a big deal over mine. He said the tickets show I "habitually pick and choose which rules I think are important enough to follow."

ETA: a friend of mine disclosed something like 20 speeding tickets In another state and never heard a thing. My point isn't that it will be an issue but that some states make a big deal over weird things.

[A. Nony Mouse]

You will likely have to report them to the bar (the states I know of at least ask about this kind of driving history) but they're absolutely not going to care.

I think this is a little too strong. I had to go to an informal hearing with my state's director of admissions for a 4-year old speeding ticket and two non moving violations, including one that was 9 years old. I don't want to worry the op, because I am from a state with a notoriously strict C&F, but they made a big deal over mine. He said the tickets show I "habitually pick and choose which rules I think are important enough to follow."

Good to know. That absolutely wasn't the case in my state (I only had speeding tickets, but definitely more and more recent than that.) I'm presuming you were still admitted in the end?

[Nonconsecutive]

I think this is a little too strong. I had to go to an informal hearing with my state's director of admissions for a 4-year old speeding ticket and two non moving violations, including one that was 9 years old. I don't want to worry the op, because I am from a state with a notoriously strict C&F, but they made a big deal over mine. He said the tickets show I "habitually pick and choose which rules I think are important enough to follow."

Dang, that's intense. I suppose it's good know to about the opposite end of the spectrum though.

[Jay2716]

You will likely have to report them to the bar (the states I know of at least ask about this kind of driving history) but they're absolutely not going to care.

I think this is a little too strong. I had to go to an informal hearing with my state's director of admissions for a 4-year old speeding ticket and two non moving violations, including one that was 9 years old. I don't want to worry the op, because I am from a state with a notoriously strict C&F, but they made a big deal over mine. He said the tickets show I "habitually pick and choose which rules I think are important enough to follow."

Good to know. That absolutely wasn't the case in my state (I only had speeding tickets, but definitely more and more recent than that.) I'm presuming you were still admitted in the end?

Yeah, and I didn't have to do a formal hearing either. I don't think a few tickets will keep someone from getting through C&F anywhere. I do think I would have had to go to a hearing if I hadn't been contrite at my meeting. So I guess my point is more that "it won't keep you from getting licensed" isn't necessarily the same thing as "it isn't serious." At least my bar wanted to see that I took it serious.

[mjb447]

Wow, I'd never heard of anything like that before, at least for such a small number of tickets.

[A. Nony Mouse]

You will likely have to report them to the bar (the states I know of at least ask about this kind of driving history) but they're absolutely not going to care.

I think this is a little too strong. I had to go to an informal hearing with my state's director of admissions for a 4-year old speeding ticket and two non moving violations, including one that was 9 years old. I don't want to worry the op, because I am from a state with a notoriously strict C&F, but they made a big deal over mine. He said the tickets show I "habitually pick and choose which rules I think are important enough to follow."

Good to know. That absolutely wasn't the case in my state (I only had speeding tickets, but definitely more and more recent than that.) I'm presuming you were still admitted in the end?

Yeah, and I didn't have to do a formal hearing either. I don't think a few tickets will keep someone from getting through C&F anywhere. I do think I would have had to go to a hearing if I hadn't been contrite at my meeting. So I guess my point is more that "it won't keep you from getting licensed" isn't necessarily the same thing as "it isn't serious." At least my bar wanted to see that I took it serious.

Oh, I get it. Yeah, I agree, looking penitent is a good idea.

[albanach]

My state interviews everyone and they brought up my one failure to obey a stop sign that was nine years old. They were fine about it, but made clear that patterns of four or five tickets get looked at closely for the reasons already mentioned in this thread. Virginia on the other hand had no interview and no follow-up questions after disclosing the same offense.

Certainly seems to vary widely state to state.

[trebekismyhero]

Yeah, I have had about six or seven speeding tickets over the last 9 years. Disclosed it for the bar, they did not care. It was IL

[kalvano]

I had like 15 or 20 tickets in Texas, no one cared.

[Borhas]

You will likely have to report them to the bar (the states I know of at least ask about this kind of driving history) but they're absolutely not going to care.

I think this is a little too strong. I had to go to an informal hearing with my state's director of admissions for a 4-year old speeding ticket and two non moving violations, including one that was 9 years old. I don't want to worry the op, because I am from a state with a notoriously strict C&F, but they made a big deal over mine. He said the tickets show I "habitually pick and choose which rules I think are important enough to follow."

ETA: a friend of mine disclosed something like 20 speeding tickets In another state and never heard a thing. My point isn't that it will be an issue but that some states make a big deal over weird things.

are you in a small state? it seems like the attorney reg organization in your state is trying to make up work for itself

[RaceJudicata]

I had like 15 or 20 tickets in Texas, no one cared.

Do you still have a drivers license?

[kalvano]

I had like 15 or 20 tickets in Texas, no one cared.

Do you still have a drivers license?

That was over like 12 years. I only have one on my driving record.

[Jay2716]

You will likely have to report them to the bar (the states I know of at least ask about this kind of driving history) but they're absolutely not going to care.

I think this is a little too strong. I had to go to an informal hearing with my state's director of admissions for a 4-year old speeding ticket and two non moving violations, including one that was 9 years old. I don't want to worry the op, because I am from a state with a notoriously strict C&F, but they made a big deal over mine. He said the tickets show I "habitually pick and choose which rules I think are important enough to follow."

ETA: a friend of mine disclosed something like 20 speeding tickets In another state and never heard a thing. My point isn't that it will be an issue but that some states make a big deal over weird things.

are you in a small state? it seems like the attorney reg organization in your state is trying to make up work for itself

Yeah, it's a relatively small state. I know the state bar also moves for disbarment as a matter of course for a first, voluntarily disclosed DUI, despite the fact that the Supreme Court has repeatedly stated they won't disbar for a first nonfelony DUI. Maybe it is just trying to look busy.

[tyroneslothrop1]

[/quote]
Yeah, it's a relatively small state. I know the state bar also moves for disbarment as a matter of course for a first, voluntarily disclosed DUI, despite the fact that the Supreme Court has repeatedly stated they won't disbar for a first nonfelony DUI. Maybe it is just trying to look busy.[/quote]

That's absurd. Most states don't do anything in response to a DUI.

[Anonymous User]

You will likely have to report them to the bar (the states I know of at least ask about this kind of driving history) but they're absolutely not going to care.

I think this is a little too strong. I had to go to an informal hearing with my state's director of admissions for a 4-year old speeding ticket and two non moving violations, including one that was 9 years old. I don't want to worry the op, because I am from a state with a notoriously strict C&F, but they made a big deal over mine. He said the tickets show I "habitually pick and choose which rules I think are important enough to follow."

ETA: a friend of mine disclosed something like 20 speeding tickets In another state and never heard a thing. My point isn't that it will be an issue but that some states make a big deal over weird things.

are you in a small state? it seems like the attorney reg organization in your state is trying to make up work for itself

Yeah, it's a relatively small state. I know the state bar also moves for disbarment as a matter of course for a first, voluntarily disclosed DUI, despite the fact that the Supreme Court has repeatedly stated they won't disbar for a first nonfelony DUI. Maybe it is just trying to look busy.

Some state C&F committees take them selves way too seriously. Keep in mind that many of the lawyers that sit on those committees are disgruntled due to going to law school and passing the bar only to spend their careers reviewing moral character applications. I have experience with the CA committee that makes people laugh in amazement.

[Anonymous User]

Not op but do we have to disclose for NY speeding tickets not on record that are considered a mimor civil offense and does not even require the offender to sign the ticket or appear in court? My record has nothing because they don't keep it beyond 5 years. I don't think this a "better disclose now and be safe" situation because the app doesnt seem to require this type of disclosure at all.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know how Maryland treats speeding tickets?

[Anonymous User]

Bump for Michigan^