I am in the process of applying for PR. I have done much research and understand that having any traffic violations on your record can be the reason for why a application fails. Unfortunately about 9 years ago, I did have my license suspended for driving too fast on the highway and I learned my lesson that the max speed on Japanese highways are much slower than my home country. I also had one driving violation for turning where I wasn’t supposed to turn a couple of years after. Other than that, I have not gotten any other violations for more than 5 years,
Since I was writing my statement of reason, I wanted to be accurate with the dates that these violations occurred, and so I applied for getting a copy of my driving record. They only issued records for the past 5 years, and since my violations happened much further in the past, it didn’t show up. I checked with the driving center, and they confirmed that they only keep records for the past 5 years. I felt like I was in the clear.
Until over the weekend, I rented one of those electronic scooters and got ticketed by the police for riding on the sidewalk. Yes, it was a very stupid move especially since I am in the process of applying for PR. The police officer (he was very polite I might add), told me that this wouldn’t give me any points on my license, but my real concern is it going to affect my PR application. I am not sure if I should include this in my statement of reason or leave it out?
If anyone here in j-life have any insight, I would really appreciate this!
4 comments
If that’s your only traffic violation in 5 years, you’re probably fine.
If the suspension ticket (which would have been a criminal charge) was going to be a problem, you would have had issues with your previous renewals.
> I learned my lesson that the max speed on Japanese highways are much slower than my home country.
This isn’t your home country, so…
​
Anyway, I had a “driving on a road for locals only” violation, but it wasn’t anything that affected my PR.
> I learned my lesson that the max speed on Japanese highways are much slower than my home country
The speed limit signs didn’t give it away?
Is that a spousal PR? If so, they don’t mind so much the driving offenses.