Speeding Tickets

[UM#1]

I have a few Speedin tickets, I've interviewed at 4 different places in the last 4 years, got hired at all and it never came up or was a factor. I think DUI is the big one that will get you in these times. Who doesn't speed anyway? Even with gas prices so high I find it funny all the big pickup trucks and SUV's doing 90mph down the highway. The worst is on those 2 lane country roads where the speed limit is 55mph. THere is always some azzhole on my butt when I do only 55mph...everyone is in such a dam hurry these days...Don't sweat the tickets...the nazi-style interviews aka "United Interviews" are long gone and most are a "get to know you" type style interview....

 

[osu_av8r]

doesn't seem like a big deal. however, I can see the wisdom in screening out people with tickets. If you can't even follow the elementary rules of driving, should they trust you with equipment that ranges from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars???

 

[JumpCaptain]

That has to be an exceptionally rare case. In fact, I almost don't believe it.

Believe it. I used to work in the Hiring/training department for a very well known regional airline and we also had a guy come through with two DUI's. We actually hired him (not my decision) and he is a senior Captain now. He is a very good pilot and employee, but has continued to have problems with the law outside of work.

Speeding tickets are no big deal most places. I guess it all depends on the employer.

 

[Midnight Flyer]

I am challenging a 2nd speeding ticket in less than one year on Wednesday. I was ticketed for going 65MPH in a 60 MPH zone
while on my way to an aviation museum a few months back. The other ticket was for 71MPH in a 60MPH. Rural area. It blows me away that my career could be seriously hampered/damaged over something so minor. I am really concerned since I am about to put in resumes for some Part 135 work.

Should I let the attorney handle the case (hired one) or actually go in and plead my case and situation to the judge? And cite my career etc as the reason for dismissal. Thanks for some honest advice.

Geeze, just slow down and your problems will be over, man. I haven't had a ticket in nearly 20 years..because I don't break the law!

That's what amuses me with some of these hot-shot airline jet pilots. They spend 80 hours a month flying 500 MPH back and forth across the country, then once they're on the ground, they tear over the countryside on their way home from the airport. I guess 80 hours a month of going fast isn't enough for some people.

 

[avpro91]

Go to court WITH a Laywer, and get him to work a deal for court supervision or traffic school. The $200 you will pay for 3 minutes of lawyer time will give you a lot less explaining to do on furture interviews. Then again, I don't think I've ever had a 135 operator scrutinize my driving habits, and 2 tickets isn't that bad UNLESS they are going to suspend your license because of it. As said earlier, DUI's are the big one and even then they're not a show stopper. Having had numerous tickets when I was younger (those things seem to come in 3's, how bout that), I can say the best money I spent was at Bob's office where he used to sigh as soon as I set foot in the door. Couldn't say if all those tickets would have held me back if they went on my record, but you never know. Most places in my experience hire you for your personality and ability to fly the aircraft, not how well you dodge rush hour traffic on the way to that show time....what time is it anyway?...oops..got to go

 

[kingaira90]

I liked to speed a lot in my late teens (tickets for 15-35 over), until I heard it could hurt my chances at airlines. I say if you have several in a short period hire a lawyer. The BEST part about hiring one is they will appear in court for you. None of the getting in the monkey suite and pleading your case. Sign the peice of paper and be done with it, they will worry about excuses. AND get the lawyer that specializes in traffic fines. The 200-300 will be made up in saved insurance cost. I hired a lawyer on my last 2 tickets when I was 18-19 and the both went away. The second was a set of tickts from a very pi$$ed highway patrolman who sited me for everything under the sun.

I have to say 5 over is silly, sounds like some cop was bored or something. -kingaira90

 

[UM#1]

FWIW - my latest ticket story...56mph in a 35mph (was a speed trap, one of those 2 lane country roads that is 55mph limit but goes thru a small area of 35mph in areas that aren't marked well...it was my first time on that road) and my license was expired (I didn't even realize it til the cop told me...was expired by a week). anyway researched all the stuff about beating a ticket and just decided to go in and try my luck. before you go into the court you get your 5 min with the court appointed attorney. he told me to plead not guilty said I could beat it, BUT I didn't want to have to come back another day for court(it was 2 hours from my house) so when I went before the judge I plead no-contest (same as guilty without having to say "guilty" ), you get a chance to say something, I told the judge I'm a good driver and made a mistake and would like some help/break if anything at all. He dropped the expired license charge, reduced the points to 0 for the speeding and just made me pay court costs and speeding ticket charge ,$130.
One thing I noticed, there are alot of other people being "pushed" thru the court everyday, and I say most where from the trouble-making side of society, dressed poorly with bad attitudes. I dressed nice, had a good attitude and basically got a good judge.
Also I know 2 guys that both had a DUI within the last 10 years, one just got on with SWA and the other is recently at CAL....