Two Types of Traffic Tickets in Japan
First of all, we need to understand that there are two types of traffic tickets in Japan, a blue ticket and a red ticket.
The difference between a blue ticket and a red ticket is degrees of the violation.
A red ticket should be imposed on a heavier violation than a blue ticket.
If a blue ticket has been imposed on you and if you have paid the fine within the determined period, you shall be recognized not to have borne a criminal liability.
If a red ticket has been imposed on you and even if you have paid the fine, the criminal record of yours cannot be invalidated.
When you have broken the speed limit, which ticket shall be imposed, a blue ticket or a red ticket ?
If you have driven less than 30 kilometers per hour over the limit on an ordinary road or less than 40 kilometers per hour over the limit on a freeway, a blue ticket shall be imposed on you.
If you have driven more than or equal to 30 kilometers per hour on an ordinary road or more than or equal to 40 kilometers per hour on a freeway, a red ticket shall be imposed on you.
How the traffic ticket imposed on you shall affect your visa application ?
If a blue ticket has been imposed on you and if you are to apply for change or extension of your visa, you don't have to write about the blue ticket on the visa application forms.
If a red ticket has been imposed on you and if you are to apply for change or extension of your visa, you need to write about the red ticket as your criminal record on the visa application forms.
* Currently the formats of application for change of visa and extension of visa have been revised and it has been clearly required to write all of the records on violation of any traffic regulations including blue tickets.
The format of application for certificate of eligibility have been revised in a same way.
The format of permanent residence application has not been changed as the above mentioned.
It can be said that the change of the formats of visa application means that the record of blue ticket shall affect the examination of your visa application somehow.
However, the effect by a blue ticket is generally seemed to be smaller than the effect by a red ticket on the examination of your visa application.
