Does a DUI 3-5 years ago Kill your chances of getting hired?

[LJ45]

my buddy got in trouble going into Canada for an arrest in the 70's, domestic with ex-wife, even though he was never convicted. He has to carry a letter, saying he was never convicted, only arrested.

 

[johnpeace]

It'll make it that much harder is all. At times, it'll mean nope, no interview...at other times it'll be overlooked. Just depends on how bad the airline needs pilots and how many qualified candidates are available.

I know that even at the PEAK of the hiring at ASA (late 2007) one of the pre-interview questions was about DUI/driving record...

 

[satpak77]

A DUI can be a felony if a death or serious injury results. A "first time" arrest, driving home from the club, one block from your driveway, no other factors, and you were nice to Mr. Officer, will be pled down to reckless driving or possibly even dismissed completely.

In Texas a DUI arrest for the third time, is a felony, irregardless of cicrumstances.

There is usually no automatic "its a misdemeanor." That is up to the prosecutor (DA) handling the case. The simple case above will be the typical exception.

 

[CX880]

You may be able to get it removed from state/local records, but never the FBI records, which what the TSA background check uses. Even though a DUI is not a TSA no-go offense, the airline will probably still see every arrest and conviction in your FBI record (for significant offenses, parking tickets, minor moving violations, and very minor misdemeanors probably don't show up)

Since the FBI records are used for national-security purposes, you cannot get anything expunged from them. This is OK for most industries because civilian employers don't normally have access to those records...airlines being an exception.

This is a nice piece of info since it shows that you can't hide a DUI even if it's expunged. Imagine those guys that put no to a DUI thinking it doesn't exist anymore.... Just man up. A DUI is a very hard thing to explain, put yourself in the interviews shoes, would you want to hire someone that is capable of getting a DUI? Unless you have 8 planes ready to be flown with 2 people interviewing, the answer is NO. So make sure you justify your cliche explanations by doing community service or something to say to them that you have changed.

 

[satpak77]

Just for some clarification

An "FBI record" is "born" when your prints are submitted to the FBI via physical print cards mailed to FBI by the arresting agency OR via electronic fingerprint submission. In almost all jurisdictions if you spent the night (or a few hours) in the local jail for anything, your prints went to the FBI, for ID, etc purposes.

No prints, no record. Prints, you probably got a FBI record. If you got asked to "come down to the station" to "take your prints" but were allowed to go home after that (pending the prosecutor reviewing the case, etc) your may still have an FBI record.

Prints + Arrested + spent ANY time in local jail = 102 % chance you have an FBI record.

FYI for those who think they can "outsmart" a bunch of electronic databases that all talk to each other.

 

[RJLoser]

May want to some of your own fact checking satpac.

 

[Hugh Johnson]

lots of responses and thanks. I can only answer what I know. His fingerprints from the FBI come back clean, as he had to do that to get back into Canada. I have only heard that the drivers record only go back 5 years. As far as "get out of aviation". I don't think i will tell him that. The two drunk pilots that flew NWA from FAR-MSP both got jobs after prision. One is at NWA and the other is at American. As far as a good traffic lawyer.... Thanks I will tell him about that.

Canada is the big deal.

 

[N813CA]

i will have to ask him these questions. His probation stated that if he was good for year that the DUI charge would go away. It was his first. He had his fingerprints taken at the local police station and sent them to the FBI with money asking for his criminal record. They came back reporting no criminal record. Yes he told the FAA and when he got his medical. So are you saying they can look into that? I agree he should just be honest. If this "pilot shortage" really happens it won't be as critical.

 

[414Flyer]

Dont forget about the Problem Driver Pointer system that searches the national driver registry. If there was an action against a drivers license (revoke, suspended, etc), it will be on there. and air carriers must submit that paperwork to search it

 

[satpak77]

May want to some of your own fact checking satpac.

Oh yeah, like what (since you failed to point that out)

Please please enlighten me

 

[satpak77]

i will have to ask him these questions. His probation stated that if he was good for year that the DUI charge would go away. It was his first. He had his fingerprints taken at the local police station and sent them to the FBI with money asking for his criminal record. They came back reporting no criminal record. Yes he told the FAA and when he got his medical. So are you saying they can look into that? I agree he should just be honest. If this "pilot shortage" really happens it won't be as critical.

He needs to go to the State DMV or DPS/etc and request his official traffic/driving record.

DID the charge go away? (RE: his rules of probation)

If it is on his medical record, then it is documented somewhere outside of the criminal justice system. Can Big Airline HR get a copy of the medical application? Don't know, but you are rolling the dice by not disclosing.

 

[N813CA]

I know its on his driving record. Just not criminal record. He lost his drivers license for a couple of weeks. The county he lives in doesn't do any deals reducing to reckless driving. They are funded too much by a casino and they don't make deals. He had a lawyer. I am not sure how good of one

 

[ACL65PILOT]

People get hired all of the time with prior DUI's. Generally speaking they have done a lot to clean up their life and are a known quantity.

A interview prep person once told a group of pilots that I was a part of: If you get one or two DUI's in college or one in the early part of your flying career most airlines may forgive that, but if you go and get one as a Part 121 captain, and have not gone though some exhaustive personal journey it shows an disconnect in your decision making ability.

That made a lot of sense to me. It makes sense to be totally honest, and not try to hide anything from a PI, to a DUI. Just be honest. The are judging the whole book, not just one chapter. Being honest, taking responsibility of your mistake and not blaming someone else goes a long way in showing an interview panel what type of person/employee you will be.

Also, remember that these major companies has all sorts of former employees from the three letter agencies. They have connections, and do very thorough background investigations. It is better to be forthright than to be asked while sitting in class why you lied. They will have no issue firing you on the spot.

Every time I interviewed I put down every moving and no moving violation I ever had. Of course some got laughs, but it is always better to error on the side of caution on items like this.

 

[Abernathy]

In el Salvador, if you get caught driving drunk, they take you out back and shoot
you...or so the rumor goes.

 

[PBRstreetgang]

Hey,
The big question is was he arrested and convicted of DUI? If so disclosure is mandatory. This is about basic honesty, does any airline want to employ liars? In this industry you are only as good as your word. Does "good moral character" ring a bell?
PBR

 

[Noise]

Oh yeah, like what (since you failed to point that out)

Please please enlighten me

FE from that flight is at american.

 

[satpak77]

FE from that flight is at american.

good for him then.

 

[dojetdriver]

It's a pretty big handicap when you consider all off the qualified applicants with a clean record.

You'd think that would be the case. Regardless of which regional it is, etc. But if Timmy Martins can get hired, I don't see why a guy with a DUI CAN'T get hired.

Especially if he's honest.

 

[Cardenal]

A DUI can be a felony if a death or serious injury results. A "first time" arrest, driving home from the club, one block from your driveway, no other factors, and you were nice to Mr. Officer, will be pled down to reckless driving or possibly even dismissed completely.

In Texas a DUI arrest for the third time, is a felony, irregardless of cicrumstances.

There is usually no automatic "its a misdemeanor." That is up to the prosecutor (DA) handling the case. The simple case above will be the typical exception.

Saying "irregardless", even once, should be a felony as well

 

[satpak77]

Saying "irregardless", even once, should be a felony as well

yes it should, however

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irregardless

Definition of IRREGARDLESS

nonstandard : regardless

Usage Discussion of IRREGARDLESS

Irregardless originated in dialectal American speech in the early 20th century. Its fairly widespread use in speech called it to the attention of usage commentators as early as 1927. The most frequently repeated remark about it is that “there is no such word.” There is such a word, however. It is still used primarily in speech, although it can be found from time to time in edited prose. Its reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. Use regardless instead.