Driving record question?

aviator64

aviator64

Well-Known Member
I started ppl earlier this summer and have currently moved to Florida to further my flight training. My goals are pursue a change of careers into the aviation industry. I hope to fly for a regional airline or corporate flight department after training. Due to age (41) I have limited my chances for flying for the majors. Before flight training I had previous worked as a motorcoach operator (bus driver) for a charter bus company in VA. I have accumulated (3) driving violations since 2001.
(2) 2001 Speeding
(1) 2005 Speeding excess of 80mph

Should I abandon my career change before I continue my investment in flight training or will a wreckless driving ruin any chance for me to seek employment with an airline.
 
I never thought I'd find another motorcoach-operator-turned-professional-pilot! I drove for 5 different bus companies from '02-'05, from age 22-25. That should be a clue to the state of the motorcoach industry.

By the time your driving record gets reviewed, only the 2005 violation will show up I imagine. If you have to disclose driving offenses on an application, I wouldn't leave them off though. If that even raises a red flag, I'd just admit to being careless and explain how you learned from it. Was it in a bus with pax on board? Or was it empty, or in your private auto?

A couple of the Van Hools I drove could get up to 80 mph, but I only cruised that fast while crossing Colorado and Nebraska (speed limit 75 mph). I'm pretty fortunate. I have a clean driving record going back to 1998.


Mike
 
Not sure if this will make a difference, but........

were your speeding offenses riding that crotch rocket in the avitar or a P.O.V.......or were they while you were operating the motorcoach?

The reason I ask is this: You might be able to say during an interview that you got those tickets while operating a P.O.V. and that you would never speed while operating a "commercial" vehicle, etc....

Either way, they are not good things to have on your driving record; but, you might be able to "explain" them away. One thing is for certain. DO NOT GET ANY MORE TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS. You need to start to show a reformed driving record. You want to prove you are a reformed motor vehicle operator.....one that obeys traffic laws, etc....
 
Just to post a common knowledge tidbit: if you drive (at least in Cali) 15mph over the speed limit or more, you will have committed a "serious traffic violation" you can be given a ticket like "reckless driving" or "excess speeding" (at the officer's discretion)(ca code 23103/A/VC). Reckless driving is a criminal offense and fines/punishment maxes out at 500 and 90days in jail. In addition, can get, if you don't already have one, a criminal record, your insurance will go up, and you'll probably pay a fee.

Besides the dangerous aspects, I thought I'd just inform you guys of the consequences of speeding. If you are ever caught and charged with reckless driving, get a lawyer, it'll set you back $1500, but your charges will most likely be reduced to a misdemeanor, and it will be well worth it.

Just thought you all should know, drive stealthily y'all :rawk:
 
AlexF said:
Just to post a common knowledge tidbit: if you drive (at least in Cali) 15mph over the speed limit or more, you can and will be given a ticket for "reckless driving" (ca code 23103/A/VC).
Click to expand...

When was this put into effect?
 
Its a common misconception that after 3 or 4 years previous offenses are removed from your record. I'm applying for an airline right now and the application requires a copy of my driving record - I found that anything you get WILL stay on your record indeffinitly however offenses older than 3 years won't count as points on your record or no longer affect insurance rates etc. Luckily I only have 1 speeding ticket on there from 2001 which I don't think will affect me too much - However its still there! As long as you're honest and don't try to make excuses I don't see much of a problem for minor offenses - especially if they're a ways in the past.
 
mtsu_av8er said:
When was this put into effect?
Click to expand...

I edited what I said just a bit. What I was trying to say is that legally, once you hit 15+ over the speed limit, you can be charged with a "serious traffic violation". At that point, the officer can charge you with reckless driving, especially if he can find anything else to charge you with (like speeding 15mph over the speed limit AND following to close, changing lanes w/o singling, or unsafe lane change etc).

However, I was talking to a CHP officer, and he says he plays it by "20+gut". By that he means if you were driving 20mph over the speed limit, he'll let his gut decide if he wants to slap you with reckless driving ticket or not. Some days I wish I could be a young girl and flit my way out of things because women are happy and look pretty 24/7! :sarcasm:
 
Each violation was in a private vehicle. I attend driver improvement classes every two years to maintain positive points on my driving record. The first two were in a county known for speed traps. Sheriff got me for 60/55 and the other was 34/25 in a speed zone when the speed drops from 55 to 25 within a mile. The last conviction 2005 was 82/65. I was avoiding an accident before me when I accelerated to avoid a car abrumptly changing lanes. The traffic flow was averaging 75 mph but I accelerated to avoid the other car. I tried to explain to the trooper but he was very brunt and did'nt want to hear it. It was Memorial Day weekend plus it did'nt help that I was driving a Porsche 944 Turbo. I went to court with a lawyer plus my driving record which showed my 2 convictions in 2000 plus a calibration which showed my speedometer off by 3 mph. The judge explained due to past convictions within 5 years that he felt that I was guilty as charge of reckless driving and will grant me the privilege of maintaining my Commercial Driver License. My lawyer maintained that due to employment as a motorcoach operator I have never been summons for a motor vehicle incident with twenty years of driving commercial vehicles. I had character references from previous employers but the judges decisions was final. I requested to speak on my behalf and to question about an appeal and the judge said, " I don't have a problem with sending you to jail". My lawyer consuled me and I accepted the $600.00 fine and maintained my licenses. My employer still maintains that I will always have a job (motorcoach operator) if I was to ever to return to Virginia. My lawyer waived attorney fees. Currently I have applied for (2) airline positons (ramp) to supplement income while in the Florida area. After going through the sessions and interviews the first airline sent me a kind letter to inform that I was ineligle for hire. Today I got a call saying , " you are not been selected for employment at this time, you do not meet the driving standards required by XXXXX airlines". So know I'm at a crossroads. Give it up and go back to driving Prevost H3-45's up and down the east coast or try to stick this flight traing out out. I'm even scared to ride my crouch rocket anymore and my Porsches stays in the drive way. I'm not looking for any sympathy because I was wrong in each case. I was going over the posted speed limit. I don't want to bash my home state but to fellow jetcareer members, "be careful on the roads especially over the holidays".
 
"I started ppl earlier this summer and have currently moved to Florida to further my flight training"

How is it your are getting job rejection letters from potential employers after just getting your PPL?

In any case, if the regionals won't touch you, you might consider 135 freight after building your time instructing up to 1200 total. I think a year of that with no problems would be enough to overcome your driving record.
 
DE727UPS said:
"I started ppl earlier this summer and have currently moved to Florida to further my flight training"

How is it your are getting job rejection letters from potential employers after just getting your PPL?

In any case, if the regionals won't touch you, you might consider 135 freight after building your time instructing up to 1200 total. I think a year of that with no problems would be enough to overcome your driving record.
Click to expand...



Currently I have applied for (2) airline positons (ramp) to supplement income while in the Florida area.
 
aviator64 said:
"be careful on the roads especially over the holidays".
Click to expand...

I bought a plane ticket home for $260. $.13 per mile. Cheaper than driving my car and certainly cheaper than one traffic offense in some places!

For working on the ramp they may need a better driving record than they'd want to see for a pilot since you would be operating equipment on the airfield. I know it's rediculous since your experience would make you a better operator of ground equipment than others with no commercial driving experience, but it probably leads to the insurance companies who are looking to disqualify applicants based solely on a blemish on their record.

I would not let this get in the way of your aviation career. 82 in a 65 isn't that bad. Christ knows I've done it. If you keep your record clean, as mentioned above, you could explain your way through this in a future HR interview.

I would focus on what you need to do now. Get your private. Then knock out your advanced ratings. If yo're in Port Saint Lucie, you should check out ATP's program on the other side of the bridge there in Stuart. No matter how you get there, your driving record will not factor into your first job as a flight instructor where your aviation career will begin.


Mike
 
You might just need more time until your interviews - my driving record wasn't great either -

-Ran red light in July 1999, ticket
-Suspended license 1999 for said ticket (under 18 years old with a moving violation in NH gets you a suspended license)
-Speeding April 2004
-Speeding August 2004

4 Accidents, however the only one that was technically 'my' fault was when I rear ended someone in June 1998. The other three were a mix of weather related (ice) and people that hit me.

When I interviewed in August 2005, the company (regional) didn't even ask for tickets on the application and didn't mention it in the interview at all (hard to believe!). After the interview, when they called to offer me the job, I mentioned about my driving record and they said just write an email disclosing everything on it (accidents, tickets, etc.) so that they wouldn't get any surprises - and that they were looking forward to seeing me in class the following monday...

Like another poster said, by the time you get to a regional (if you even want to go that route, I recommend something else BTW) just keep your nose clean of all tickets, and you should be ok.

~wheelusp
 
AlexF said:
Just to post a common knowledge tidbit: if you drive (at least in Cali) 15mph over the speed limit or more, you will have committed a "serious traffic violation" you can be given a ticket like "reckless driving" or "excess speeding" (at the officer's discretion)(ca code 23103/A/VC). Reckless driving is a criminal offense and fines/punishment maxes out at 500 and 90days in jail. In addition, can get, if you don't already have one, a criminal record, your insurance will go up, and you'll probably pay a fee.

Besides the dangerous aspects, I thought I'd just inform you guys of the consequences of speeding. If you are ever caught and charged with reckless driving, get a lawyer, it'll set you back $1500, but your charges will most likely be reduced to a misdemeanor, and it will be well worth it.

Just thought you all should know, drive stealthily y'all :rawk:
Click to expand...

Holy crap my family has gotten tickets doing like 40 over the speed limit and never been charged with wreckless driving?

Except that one time 130-60.:buck:
 
AlexF said:
I edited what I said just a bit.
Click to expand...

Just a bit? You said something totally different . . . lol. The first version was completely inaccurate, whereas the second one made alot more sense.
 
wheelsup said:
Like another poster said, by the time you get to a regional (if you even want to go that route, I recommend something else BTW) just keep your nose clean of all tickets, and you should be ok.
Click to expand...
:yeahthat:

Different airlines will have different standards. Some may not care a whit about your driving record, others will look at it very closely. By the time you get to the regionals, your current infractions will be sufficiently dated that most are not likely to care much. BUT DO NOT GET ANY MORE. The airlines, above all, will be looking for patterns from which they will try to determine something about you as a person. If they see that you consistently get a ticket or two every year or so, they are going to assume that you have a problem following the rules, and no airline wants to hire a pilot who has a problem following the rules.

To sum up, don't worry about your existing record, BUT DO NOT GET ANY MORE.

Oh, and if you are ever asked about the traffic infractions in an interview, DO NOT try to explain them away (like you just did in your post). Admit you made mistakes and tell them how you've grown -- HR types love that stuff. The excuses they have already heard half-a-billion times, and I guarantee you that they aren't interested in yours.

MF
 
mtsu_av8er said:
Just a bit? You said something totally different . . . lol.
Click to expand...
It was a scare tactic to grab your attention :p .....

Man, I should really be a politician
 
Bigey said:
Holy crap my family has gotten tickets doing like 40 over the speed limit and never been charged with wreckless driving?

Except that one time 130-60.:buck:
Click to expand...

NOW you see what happens when they let Bigey drive............................:)
 
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