Is my Career Over???

flyTotheSky

flyTotheSky

Well-Known Member
Hello All,

I'm devastated. Tonight I was ticketed for possesion of alcohol under the age of 21. This is my first offense ever in my lifetime. I am 20 years old, one month away from 21, working on my CFI ticket. My goals are to be a professional pilot one day. I just can't believe this happened. I was sitting outside at a bar's beer garden minding my own business, having a beer with a couple buddies and I get the tap on the shoulder. It's the cops and they ask for my ID and I asked them if we could step outside of the bar and talk. All of the sudden I am wisked away in hand cuffs! I am completely humilitatied in front of all of my friends and the whole bar! As I said I've never been arrested in my life and they really made me feel like a criminal. I'm not sure if any of you have been hand cuffed before but it is really an experience not to live. Humiliation at its finest. Anyways, I'm wondering what the implications of this citation? Will this hinder my job prosepcts? I'm sure this is a dead horse subject but I would like to know. This is only a citation and I could pay it off or get the fine reduced if I do community service. I think I wll opt for the latter. Anyways, this defintely teaches anyone a lesson. IT IS NOT WORTH IT! I did not need that Bud Light.....
 
flyTotheSky said:
I did not need that Bud Light.....
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You bet,....... I'd feel sorry for you if you were busted drinking any decent micro-brew, but come on, BUD LIGHT, you totally deserve it.:D





Just kidding man......( I hope is making you smile right now :) ) this issue has been talk here a few times, try to do a search.

Anyways, for what I read in the past, it shouldn't be the end of your career, get the best lawyer you can afford, be a good boy for now on, and don't lie in a future interview, be sincere, and explain what happened.

We all make mistakes......


Champcar in 3........2..........1..........(just kidding with you Champcar :) , I'm sure you get it, hope that makes you smile too)
 
Texasspilot said:
read this.

Get lawyer...get it off your record...shouldn't be a problem so long as no more screwups.

similiar thread recently.

http://forums.jetcareers.com/showthread.php?t=27679&highlight=lawyer
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agree, up in ND we call it a minor it shouldnt be too bad at first but if it contineus you can face jail time and a bad reccord. but yeah I hate the police, all they do is harass innocent people and let the REAL criminals get away freely, they always want to punish and draw big attention in embarassing the individual they have caught and showing their "powers".

GL to you
 
Don't worry about it......just chalk it up to experience, own up to it and let it go.....I would definitely talk to the judge and see if you can avoid getting your license suspended (it's a must in most states)....As long as you're honest about it and avoid other troube with the law, you won't have a problem........Whatever you do, don't try to blame anyone else but yourself, especially in an interview.....When you go to any job interview, your attitude will be the determining factor in whether you get the job or not (as long as you have the required experience)....if you show the interviewer that you are honest and accountable, they most likely won't hold it against you....if you try to hide it and then blame it on something or someone else, it gives them a reason to question your integrity.........I'd say pay the fine, try to keep your license from getting suspended, and put it behind you.......
 
flyTotheSky said:
IT IS NOT WORTH IT! I did not need that Bud Light.....
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You're absolutely correct -whiskey is where it's at!!

:insane:

Really, relax. You're a kid. You made a childish mistake. Learn from it, get an attorney, and move on.
 
The minor-in-possession may not be a big deal, but the driver license suspension will show up on your driving record, which more than likely will be pulled by any airline you apply to henceforth. You'll definitely have some 'splaining to do.

You've got a month to go, man. Just obey the freakin law.

And btw, the reason the cops are so anal about minors in possession is that kids tend to binge drink and are thus more likely to be involved in a drunk driving episode than older folk who just get plastered in Doug's living room and pass out.
 
Man,
First off relax this is no big deal at all. Seriously dont worry about it pay the citation and be done with it. Some of the others have said you will loose your drivers license. Let me get this right it was just posseion by a minor right? Not a dui! There is no reason that your license will be affected you werent driving. Just get a lawyer and it will be fine. When it comes to interviews later on just tell them the truth you were 20 and doing what 20 yr olds do. not a problem seriously.
 
Man,
First off relax this is no big deal at all. Seriously dont worry about it pay the citation and be done with it. Some of the others have said you will loose your drivers license. Let me get this right it was just posseion by a minor right? Not a dui! There is no reason that your license will be affected you werent driving. Just get a lawyer and it will be fine. When it comes to interviews later on just tell them the truth you were 20 and doing what 20 yr olds do. not a problem seriously.
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Yes, possesion by a minor. I will not get my license suspended. I know I can get this off my record but what really is your "record". Will companies be able to pull a city ordonance violation? When I got out of the bar, the officer told me that I was being arrested for possesion. I'm not sure if I was officially on record "arrested" as they let me go with a ticket. Is this something where I will have to check the box where it says "Have you ever been arrested for so and so...." on an application for a company?

I will own up to this. It was all my fault. I took the gamble and unfortunately had to bite the bullet. Hopefully, I can learn from this experience.

Thanks for everyone's help.
 
Don't get a lawyer! Plead guilty, pay the fine or do the community service thing if you want. There's no way to get out of it or get it off your record, so don't bother with paying for the lawyer. It's a misdemeanor offence, like having your dog out in the park with no leash. It's seriously not a big deal. Just own up to it on your future applications and interviews and you should be fine.

Mike
 
Oh yea, I've been there done that. I wasn't arrested, just ticketed, thankfully. You might want to find out if you were technically arrested or not. Maybe just show up to your court date in order to plead guilty and ask the judge. I went to my court date. Contrary to urban myth, the fine paid is not less if you just pay the ticket. I knew I was guilty, I just wanted to waste the city's time and resources with my right to a trial. Here's my "drinking award" from way back in 2000:


Charges, Dispositions, Sentences
Title: CITY OF IOWA CITY vs STEPHENSON, MICHAEL LEE
Case: 06521ICSTIC111160 (JOHNSON) [SIZE=+1]Defendant:[/SIZE] STEPHENSON, MICHAEL LEE Count 01 Charge Charge:
IC/4-5-4 Description: DNU POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL UNDER LEGAL AGE 1ST OFFENSE Offense Date: 09/07/2000 Arrest Date:
Against Type: Adjudication Charge:
IC/4-5-4 Description: DNU POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL UNDER LEGAL AGE 1ST OFFENSE Adj.:
DNU-GUILTY Adj.Date: 12/28/2000 Adj.Judge:
GODDARD, BRUCE D Comments: Sentence Charge:
IC/4-5-4 Description: DNU POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL UNDER LEGAL AGE 1ST OFFENSE Sentence Date:
12/28/2000 Sentence: FINE Appeal:

Sen.Judge: GODDARD, BRUCE D Facility Type:

Attorney: N Restitution:
N Drug: N Extradition: N Lic.Revoked:
N DDS: N Batterer: N Fine Amount:
100 Duration: Comment:
 
You'll probably be fine, but if its on your record at all it certainly doesn't help...Lets say you and 20 other guys apply to the airline with 800/200, and everyone else has a clean record (regardless of what happened), guess whose getting picked?
 
ok, the only statement i want to make is to those folks that are saying "possession of a minor" is *NO* big deal....comeon guys.... you all know that breaking the law is breaking the law and i bet you there's more than one judge out there whose willing to take the example offender and make their lives a living hell...

you had a month to go - what WERE you thinking? you wanna be a pilot, your gonna have to be a lot more dedicated with what temptations you allow yourself to enjoy....

enjoying a beverage as a minor IS a big deal because you could literally be shooting yourself in the foot if you get caught.. and it's not "if", it's "when", as flytothesky has realized....so you really have to ask yourself.. is it worth it? if it's NO big deal, then it must be "ok" and sorry, i tend to disagree....

the only thing this thread shows me is that if i were younger than 21, wanted to be a pilot... underage drinking wouldn't really be THAT big of a problem because i might be able to get the charge expunged...i won't get my license suspended and the airlines probably won't find it that big of a deal since it's "just" an arrest and citation and i wanna make sure all you youngin's out there understand that it IS a big deal and you could really be harming yourself and/or others by "going by example"

misdemeanor is a misdemeanor, it's not a felony...but it is still a crime!

how badly do you want that career? if you want it bad enough, you won't cross the criminal line, for anything....
 
FlyingNole said:
You'll probably be fine, but if its on your record at all it certainly doesn't help...Lets say you and 20 other guys apply to the airline with 800/200, and everyone else has a clean record (regardless of what happened), guess whose getting picked?
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The one who gives the best interview?
 
I did make a mistake. I was wrong. I feel like sh%t. I know I could have potentially killed my career away. I can't tell you how bad I wish to take it back. I had a clean record up until now. I've pretty much hit rock bottom here guys....

Some good news is that a buddy of mine that plays in a band with me is an attorney and he is willing to help me out. He actually knows the city attorney real well because he works with her everyday. I guess I'll get supervision for a few months and that will be the end of it.

I guess the next thing to do is find out of I was actually ever arrested. I don't think I was as I just walked away with a ticket. I think checking the box "have you ever been arrested" would be the career killer....

Jon
 
1. Stay out of trouble.
2. Get a lawyer.
3. Your career isn't over, but if it ends up staying on your record you're going to have to make a learning experience out of it and be prepared to discuss it during any interview (both aviation and non-aviation). "Almost 21" is like saying "barely pregnant".
 
I'm curious...most job applications I've seen are specific and ask "Have you ever been convicted of a felony?" In this case, he can honestly say "No."

Arrest means that you were detained. It does not mean you were "charged." And, depending on the situation (this is the lawyer part) you can have your record expunged.

I was arrested for bartending underage in a club with no liquor license once. Went to court, the arrest and charges were crap (long story, that one) and I was ACQUITTED. Attorney had the record expunged and that was that. It did cost a couple grand, but it's possible.

Your lawyer will tell you what you're facing, but MIPs are pretty common, and they're low-grade misdemeanors, so I don't think you're screwed. Keep your nose clean, and if you're up in front of a judge, be very, very, very remorseful and respectful.
 
killbilly said:
I
I was arrested for bartending underage in a club with no liquor license once.
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Whew! Back when I was a kid, we had simple lemonade stands, but you guys are cranking out the Brandy Alexanders for cars traversing the cul de sac?
 
dude wtf?? this isnt any big deal. dont hire a lawyer unless you like to waste more money and feel like a tool. this is a citation, like speeding or your dog sh*tting in city halls doorsteps. I know for a 100% fact that Mesa has hired convicted felons in the past. I have buddies with dui's and that are flying for the regionals. Unless you have an interview with Continental (mainline) next week and you just got a dui or an assault charge, then dont sweat it. Ive sone all sorts of stupid crap as a minor and look at me now! I get to fly an airplane for 24 grand a year...neato!
 
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