Yeah I don't like that question on applications, either. If it asks, "Have you ever been arrested?" I'm good, as I never have been, but if it asks, "Have you ever been convicted of violating a law?" well, then I can't say no.

5 years ago I got an open container (in public, not in a vehicle) ticket, which in NYC is not even considered a crime, but an infraction/offense. It's a violation of administrative law code. The penalty is a ticket that costs less than any parking ticket (it's $25).

The chances of it showing up on a background check are nearly zero, but it's not impossible, hence I just fess up on an app, as much as I hate having to. The fact that it involves that dreaded word ALCOHOL makes me nervous. Hopefully, whoever sees it and judges me on it will at least have some mercy given it happened on the Fourth of July.

My biggest regret (besides having a beer outdoors) was not having the ticket thrown out. The cop didn't provide his full name on the ticket -- only his last name (ticket specifies complaintants FULL name). My court date was scheduled on a day when I had a trip, so at the time I saw it easier to just go to the nearest police station, plead guilty, and pay the $25 ticket rather than miss work/lose pay.

Until the next day, when I woke up and thought about what it will mean to have that potentially be on my dreaded permament record (although I think the cops did say they don't keep records of this, though I think you have to take anything they say with a grain of salt). Uggghh....................