Am I hosed? (driving record)

[Midwest]

So, about a month ago I recieved a ticket for an "illegal lane change."

Last night, "disobeying a traffic sign" aka: no u turn.

Previous violations were 2 speeding tickets from '99. I was just stupid back then.

Is this record cause for concern? The two tickets from '99 was just me being young and dumb. The last two were just little mistakes from me not looking around enough. I'm normally a very diligent driver, hence the 3 year gap between them.

I would like to make the step to a regional within the next year, but am worried this could be a deal breaker.

Any comments or advice is greatly appretiated.

Midwest

 

[CDVdriver]

Well.....

All of 'em are "moving violations" , pilot error so to speak and not technical items like my ticket for a cracked windshield.
I think you're still pretty safe though since (apart from the speeding in '99) making an illegal U-turn is not really dangerous driving in my book unless you would have caused an accident.
So when this comes up during an interview I'd say something like:
I was unfamiliar with the area could not find blah blah did not see the sign blah blah no other traffic except the police officer in hiding blah blah. Just play it down...these are just your average run of the mill traffic mistakes.

 

[LJDRVR]

Start driving like a little old lady. Drive exactly the speed limit and follow the rules every single time. Unable to do that? Be prepared to explain to any potential employer why you are qualified to decide which laws to obey.

Don't use the excuse the guy above me provided. My advice is to change your behavior and accept responsibility for your willful disobedience. (The citations you describe are not "mistakes")
Own up.

Don't mean to seem negative. If you change your behavior and accept responsibilities for your actions, the tickets won't hurt you at all.

Good Luck!

 

[CDVdriver]

OhOh

4 tickets in 5 years should not be such a big deal.
It does not (in my mind) show a trend of irresponsible behaviour...yet.
It's not like a string of speeding tickets.
Before I got serious in aviation I had a yearly budget for speeding tickets.
I'm from a European nation where the privacy laws are so strict (as they should be) that insurance companies do NOT have access to your driving record as far as tickets are concerned.
They keep their own (industry) database where they keep track of accidents/incidents.
No way a future employer would have access to it either, during an interview you would be judged on your professional behaviour, so only aviation related..as it should be although they will obviously check for criminal history.
But sure pay more attention next time..but those without sin cast the first stone so to speak.eek: Bible quote ALERT )

 

[jarhead]

4 tickets in 5 years IS a big deal. To think otherwise is wishful thinking. I am 63 years of age, and I have not had 4 tickets in my entire life. My son is a 121 pilot at a regional, and 32 years of age. He has never had even 1 ticket (other than expired parking meter) in his entire life.

You got the tickets; now you'll have to deal with the consequences. Not trying to be harsh here.....just stating reality.

 

[Lequip]

Your averaging almost 1 moving violation a year and that DOES show a pattern. I'd say about 9 out of 10 pilots competing against you might have 1, if that, in the past 5 years. I think 4 moving violations is a major concern for you. Have fun explaining them.

 

[Crizz]

Dont let them get you down Midwest... we all know its who you know that gets you your airline gig

 

[CesnaCaptn]

I don't even remember traffic tickets coming up durring my interview. In fact, I brought a DMV printout and the interview team never asked to see it.

I would say be prepared to explain them, but don't dwell on it. Oh, and another thing, I hope you weren't flying back in '99 when you were "young and stupid." That would be too much of a contradiction.

 

[Wankel7]

There is nothing you can do about it now! You have the tickets. The only thing you can do is take them to court. Maybe the officer won't show. Maybe there is an error on the ticket. Maybe you can get it reduced.

So, stop fretting over this. Try to fight it in court. And move on!

Wankel

 

[Cosmo1999]

If its not on the list of disqualifying offenses then you have a chance. Some people get all worked up over tickets, others do not. Its funny to see the high horse people come out of the wood work on these posts. The "consequences" are going to be paying the fine, explaining yourself at the interview and moving on with life. You may or may not get the job based on that but you will get a job somewhere. Now if you had a DUI or Reckless Driving then thatd be a different story. Most HR people are level headed and realize at some point a lot of people have either had a ticket or at least been pulled over under suspicion of a traffic offense. Just dont get a whole bunch more and you will be fine

 

[Jedi_Cheese]

Since we are on the question of tickets, how will an underage drinking ticket in 2002 affect my employability chances? I have nothing else on my record and any flight job will be 2+ years in my future (at that point it will be CFI or something along those lines, any airline is way out there).

 

[Cosmo1999]

well that depends. If you were under 18 and the charges were taken care of in Juvenille Court then your ok, your juvenille record is sealed and can be accessed by law enforcement and judges only. However if you were over 18 then it will show your criminal record check. Most instructing places dont do background checks however most applications for jobs ask if you have ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor. If you are asked then definately put it because if they do happen to find out your toast if you didnt put it down. If your asked just be totally honest about it and what you have learned from it. Since its the only thing on your record you should be good. Just keep a clean record from here on out

 

[wheelsup]

Suspended license

I had a suspended license due to my age - i was under the age of 18 on the ticket date but over the age of 18 on the suspended license date (**CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED**ty I know!!).

The reason it was suspended is because I was under 18 and received a moving violation...and per NH law immediate suspension for 20 days.

I've been applying to AirNet (just updating) and they hired someone I knew with a DUI/Reckless Driving offense...so I think I'm ok with the suspended license.

The thing that sucks is that is was just after my 18th birthday!

~wheelsup

 

[Fly2Scuba]

Midwest, it's all about selling yourself. Think positive, and keep it positive in the interview. Think used car salesman mentality. Get a hard copy of your driving record from the state, so you know what the airlines will see. If it comes up in the interview, say something to the effect "I made a few small driving mistakes that I regret and hope not to make in the future, yet I'd like to point out my flawless incident free flying record. Safety is a top priority and I have contributed to safe practices at my local airport by....." You've just spun a negative to a positive just like a politician. Drive safe and happy Easter!

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Stop driving like a moron and once there is some time between the tickets and the time you are sitting in the interview chair you can reflect and say; "I used to drive like a moron, then I asked myself, if I were in an airplane, would I be this careless? Of course not. Since then, I've tried to be as safe of a driver as I am a pilot. It's served me well thus far." Something like that. But please quit driving like a moron....we'd all appreciate it.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

4 tickets in 5 years!

YOU are the reason they look at these records - and YOU are the guy who gets tossed due to his record.

I dont agree with it myself, but ya gotta play by the rules..

1 or 2 ....sure, they ignore that....but YOU show a pattern, and who needs a strike against themselves going into an interview...99% of the other guys there wont have this!

Change your driving habits. Stay ticket free for a few years and the "young and dumb" thing starts to have credibility.

OH, and the golden rule. Dont lie about ANYTHING. NOTHING. You would be amazed what can show up that was "sealed" or "expunged". I have seen it, and its unexplainable (your lie that is)

Everyone has a weaker side, yours is your driving record...it can be forgiven (maybe) just dont lie!

Good Luck!

 

[FN FAL]

Hey, you guys ever get the idea someone could be dredging in here for stuff that could get used against you some day in the future?

 

[bobbysamd]

Traffic tix

I second the others. You really need to straighten up and drive right. You will only hurt yourself if you do not.

While I sincerely believe the airlines primarily want saints and can get them, there is some give for the occasional traffic violation. But not five.

Consider how it looks on the app. I had three tickets during the 1980s. One was in 1981 for speeding. The others came five years later, within a span of months. One was for speeding; the second was a bogus parking violation. Both came from the same small-time police department. The SkyWest application, the first of which I submitted three years later, required that I list all tickets. I submitted my last fresh SkyWest application eight years after the last two tickets, but I still had to list them. Forgive and forget? Who knows? I had interviews at other regionals but not at SkyWest..

I had a friend who was irresponsible on the road (and in other aspects of his life) and who rolled a 182, but still managed to be hired at the regionals in the '80s. He probably wouldn't have a chance today with his driving record.

I second the recommendation about getting your driving record so you can least know what others know about you.

Good luck. Drive safely.

 

[TOGA]

From someone who learned the hard way:

There's some truth in most of the responses you've received, Midwest. It is a big deal, especially in today's market. DO NOT get any more violations of any kind . . . ever . . . anywhere. Do pull state and national driving histories on yourself now, and before interviewing anywhere. On that note, those who discuss how to tackle this subject in an interview are missing a crucial point . . . these infractions may keep you from getting an interview in the first place. If you are given the opportunity to explain this, go with the 'I was an idiot, and I'm not anymore' line . . . you know, the truth. The paraphrase in the preceding sentence requires two things: total admission of guilt and NO MORE TICKETS. No cop outs, no scape goats, nothing. You were wrong, and now you're right. In case you think I'm talking out my a$$ here, I've been to jail four times for driving offenses . . . no DUIs, no at-fault accidents, no racing, nothing 'bad' . . . just plain ol' speeding and its consequences. I had to wait almost seven years after I was 'ready' to start my career because I took so long to learn my lesson. Please, learn from my mistakes. Good luck.

 

[pilotman2105]

Someone just hit me a month ago during an "illegal lane change." Scratched my car pretty good, too. Hope it wasn't you!!!

But yes, if you have a clean record, or at least mostly a clean record, then you don't have anything to worry about. Just keep it that way. I haven't gotten a speeding ticket or even a parking violation. Just follow the rules and don't drive like too much of a moron and it's easy to do.