Speeding Tickets and SWA App

[flyingchicago]

I noticed the SWA app asks a bullet question, "Have you EVER had any moving violations, ie. speeding tickets etc." Yes/No.

Well I did have a speeding ticket more than 10 years ago which of course has long since been removed from my state record. I mean are you guys declaring 10+ year old tickets? What records will SWA check in background because if it is the same record the state provides you at the DMV then it would appear I have a flawless driving record. To be honest I wouldn't even know what date or even specific year to list because it has been so long and I couldn't find it on my record anymore.

I know SWA would never deny someone employment for one single violation like a speeding ticket that occured more than a decade ago but should I even declare it if my own state shows it has been removed from my records?

What are you guys doing, and please no flames for "not being honest" because I certainly am ok with checking "Yes" but if it hurts me for no reason...

 

[SWAnnabee]

Same question earlier

Check some earlier posts from the last few days. I had the same problem. Just to be honest, I would type in the application that there is a ticket, give an approximate time period, and explain that you know it exists but are not sure of the date.

 

[Snoopy58]

You'll have to look awfully hard to find a SWA pilot who has NOT had a speeding ticket some where, some time. To acknowledge a ticket in the ancient past is no black mark at all, and to claim that you've NEVER had a ticket would only raise more questions about your veracity. Just give them the info you remember, as bozt45 suggested, and you'll be fine.

There may be some airline recruiters out there someplace with their heads so far into the sand that they think that their ideal candidate has never had a speeding ticket in his life, and they actually believe that enough such people exist to man their operation, and so leaving off any ticket you figured they couldn't find would be the path more likely to get you hired with them. Such recruiters are NOT at SWA! The People Department is smart enough to know that most pilots HAVE had speeding tickets, and it doesn't make them worse pilots; they'll be far more worried about someone who CLAIMS to have NEVER had a ticket.

If your only tickets are 10 years in the past, you're doing fine.

 

[chase]

Concur with previous posts

State what you said if it asks for remarks. Note the approximate date, location, circumstances. Obviously your intent is to be upfront with them otherwise you would have already answered your own question by not even bothering to ask "what if". Being upfront & honest is the way to go along with a solid explanation which you have. Assuming you have no hiccups (which a distant speeding ticket isn't) sit back & wait for the call, you'll do fine. cheers,

btw, a side note, just to brag a little about our customers in light of all the reality TV that has shown some of our less enlightened customers, here is a description of a real incident from yesterday's flight involving some west Texas paxs

We're scheduled to depart and the "A" FA comes up & says one of the pax has a gift for all of us. She shows us a homemade chocolate cream pie with plates, napkins, knife & fork (all plastic for all those TSA wannabees) that one of our pax had taken the effort to make, get through security & then hand deliver to us as she makes her way out west. Even though I've had many "nice" things done to me by employees and customers, this one went well beyond what I would expect of the traveling public that is often maligned. My apologies for being off subject but I couldn't resist this incredible story. SWA is a unique place & we are forever indebted to the great folks who choose to fly with us....thanks! & for those who are interested, the pie was great!!!

My apologies for thread diversion...couldn't resist the story

 

[StopNTSing]

What Snoopy58 said. This question is not so much are you a reckless driver, but rather are you honest enough to admit you've made some mistakes in the past (because we ALL have). Full disclosure of any and all warts is required here.

 

[SWAdude]

Its not there for the honesty. Its there for the pilots that have many tickets in their recent past. One ticket ten years ago does not equate to five tickets in the past couple years.

You have nothing to worry about. Believe me. I've been on the inside of the hiring process and many have been hired for far worse than that.

But on that note. DO....NOT.....LIE.

It will come back and bite you.

Good luck.

SWAdude

 

[thebluto]

Is there a website or something that you can check your record to see what's out there on you for traffic tickets, etc? I can't remember getting a ticket since 1989. But, I'd hate to be surprised with any other tickets since then.

 

[satpak77]

honesty is the best policy, like everyone said

you can check you Texas traffic history by filling out a form and mailing it to Austin with like 8 bucks, maybe more, maybe less.

you might go to your states DPS or DOT/DMV website and see if it is in the FAQ area

good luck

 

[Skater]

Did anyone else find it ironic that they wanted to know if you had ever had a speeding ticket, but only wanted to know if you had commited murder, treason, larceny, etc... in the last ten years?

 

[llowwelll]

I think I may have missed something on this question. I did not see anything specifically regarding speeding tickets. What I saw was, "At any time, have you EVER been convicted of or pled guilty to a traffic or moving violation(s)?" I interpreted this to mean things like reckless driving or for some other reason doing something that would have involved going to traffic court. I wasn't thinking that a speeding ticket involved being convicted or pleading guilty to anything. I'd appreciate it very much if somebody could clarify what they were looking for here. Or, was there another question I'm not thinking of that asked about speeding tickets??

 

[catIIIc]

I may be wrong but I thought that a speeding ticket was a moving violation. Just be honest and put it on the app, it will only hurt if you have like 10 speeding tickets in the past month or you put nothing and they find out.

 

[DAL737FO]

This is straight from Lindsey Lang in response to my question.


The question does mean any ticket you may have gotten. Our
recommendation is to go ahead and put what you remember, even if all it
is the Month/Year and State the ticket was given. Southwest pulls a
National Drivers Record and if something pulls up that you didn't
disclose it is much harder to fix than if you just go ahead and fill in
the question. I hope this helps, feel free to call me at 214-792-5446
if you need anything else!

We are looking forward to a busy year of interviews!
Lindsey

Ms. Lang,

Sorry to bother you however I have a question on your online
application. Is the question "At any time, have you EVER been convicted
of or pled guilty to a traffic or moving violation?" refering to any
ticket you may have gotten in your life or does it refer to violations
that make you famous (i.e. reckless/careless driving) Thank you in
advance for your help.

 

[Snoopy58]

(This post was written in response to advice from "Vladimir Lenin," which he subsequently deleted. His post was something along the lines of "they can only find 5 years of history using the NDR" and no more, so don't tell them anything more than that." Guess I should have quoted what he said so he can't erase his tracks & pretend he never said it. Lesson learned for dealing with trolls like him in the future.)

Referring to "Vladimir Lenin's" post, I said

More excellent advice from a fine, upstanding buffoon, fully inkeeping with his demonstrated character here on Flightinfo!

Anybody who wants to bet their career on that joker's advice, you deserve what you get!

A few speeding tickets will NOT sink you, but hints of dishonesty (or, what I think I can get away with, because some internet clown told me you couldn't find it) will. Questions?

 

[RocketRob]

I agree with being honest and forthcoming (everbodys got a few speeding tickets anyways!). But, if I remember correctly when you pay your tickets you can pled no contest, which means you havent been convicted or found guilty........... right?


What do ya think?

 

[Snoopy58]

Rocket, I'm not a lawyer and I don't even play one on TV, and since I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, all I can give you is a semi-educated "You could be right about that, I don't know."

What I DO know is that it wouldn't be smart to bet a career at Southwest on winning that argument using "pilot lounge lawyer" reasoning with the People Department! They're quoted above as saying that they want applicants to put down old speeding/traffic tickets on the app, so I'm thinking that that's what they want!

This isn't that hard, really!

 

[Indapool]

One of the very best ways to get fired from SWA is to lie about something....

Fill out app at your discretion

 

[RocketRob]

Dont get me wrong..... I put down my 3 speeding tickets over 12 years. I'm just bringing up a point about pleading "no contest". Maybe SWA needs a little clarification on this question as it is obviously bringing up questions and debate.

 

[llowwelll]

Hey DAL737FO!! Thanks, for the info! That's exactly what I was looking for.

 

[Bill Nelson]

I am not sure where some of you guys came up with the idea that pleading No contest means you weren't convicted!

that is rediculous. You were still convicted of the crime. You just chose not to fight it. That would be like saying someone who plead Not Guilty and was found guilty has not been convicted because they didn't plead "guilty".

Take your own chances, but it would be flat out dishonest to say you have no tickets because you plead no contest to all of them.

Just my worthless 2 cents.

 

[FN FAL]

I think I may have missed something on this question. I did not see anything specifically regarding speeding tickets. What I saw was, "At any time, have you EVER been convicted of or pled guilty to a traffic or moving violation(s)?" I interpreted this to mean things like reckless driving or for some other reason doing something that would have involved going to traffic court. I wasn't thinking that a speeding ticket involved being convicted or pleading guilty to anything. I'd appreciate it very much if somebody could clarify what they were looking for here. Or, was there another question I'm not thinking of that asked about speeding tickets??

I hope your dumb ass is never flying my family around.