Major problem, need opinions please

[rs2010]

I have been lurking around these forums for a while now, but this is my first post. I have applied to a few fire departments, and have been hopeful about my chances at getting hired.

Well, I just found out some very depressing news, and I need some opinions on how detrimental this news will be for my aspirations of becoming a firefighter.

I have just recently moved to a new state, and I tried getting a drivers license, but I found out that my driving privileges in this state have been suspended because I have a failure to appear, and failure to pay, for a speeding ticket I received here in 2009. I never received the courtesy notice for that speeding ticket, and I tried calling the courthouse two times, but they didn't have record of the ticket. I foolishly thought the officer never submitted the ticket because he was grossly wrong about how fast I was going. He originally said he paced me going 65 in a 35, I told him that was impossible. He came back and said another officer had paced me going 45, and then he asked me how fast I thought I was going. It was clear to me he had no clue about how fast I was really going. Well because of that, I foolishly thought he probably had not submitted the ticket.

Obviously this is my responsibility. Regardless of the what the officer did, I know that legally, I am at fault. So my question for all of you is, what do I do now? I have paid the ticket and the failure to appear charge, but now I am wondering if I should just forget about getting a drivers license here, and just move back to my previous state. At least my home state DMV record is completely clean. It has been my dream to become a firefighter and now I am afraid that these charges on my driving record are going to kill that dream. Do you guys know when they do a background check if they check your driving record in all 50 states, or just your home state? Sorry for this long post, any helpful insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.

[powerhourcoug]

I'm a little confused. Since you paid the fine, can't you get a license now?

My license was suspended briefly when I was 16 for a similar issue. I was in high school, got a speeding ticket, and missed my court date. I don't remember why I missed it, but it happened. Anyways, my license was suspended briefly, but once I rescheduled my court date it was re-instated.

There is a record of everything. Some departments will do national background checks, others will only check your state. Why take the chance? Just own up to it 100%. NO mention of saying you thought the cop was "foolish". Tell them YOU were foolish. Sh*t happens. If you own up to it, it will say volumes about your character.

If that is the only "smudge" on your record, I wouldn't sweat it. Even the best people make mistakes.

There are people on here who you will say you're doomed and talk all sorts of hellfire and brimstone...be forewarned.

[zachis4wheeling]

IMHO.....this really isn't a monstrous screw up dude. Like the above poister said, some people might try and blow this all sorts of out of proportion, saying you didn't own up to it at the time etc, etc. First and foremost, you have done what you can to fix it. You paid the fee, etc. But most of all, you freely admitted on here that it's your fault, your responsibility and you screwed up. You didn't try to blame anyone else.


Is it far enough back that it isn't going to pop up on a driving record if you or a prospective employer try to pull a copy of your driving record?

I'm not saying that you should ignore it at all, but a lot of fire departments who look at a copy of your driving record will only look back 3 years. I had a couple speeding tickets when I was in my teens and one as recent as when I was 21, but I am almost 26 now and have managed to stay out of the cops ticket book. I still tell the fire departments who I interview with that history though if they ask, I don't try to cover it up. But I also add on that it's been almost 5 years since my last infraction.

Also, why is the state you are in not giving you the privelege of getting a drivers license from the state you had the issue in?


In my opinion, if you can't get a license in the state of the job you are applying for, no matter what....I would look at going to a different state (at least until you can get a license in the state where the ticket issue happened at). Don't put it all on hold because of a stupid hang up.

Don't beat yourself up on this man. I and a lot of other guys have screwed up waaaaay worse and done a lot worse things. Keep your chin up.

[rs2010]

Powerhourcoug: I can get a drivers license now because I have paid all the fines. My concern is that once I get this states drivers license, all the departments are going to check this states driving record, and on it is going to show, failure to appear, and that my driving privileges were suspended at one time. I know this is not going to look good. My current drivers license from my home state has a squeaky clean driving record. If I moved back to my home state, my driving record wouldnt have any negatives. Also, I never said the police officer was foolish, I said that he was grossly wrong about how fast I was going. I said I was foolish for thinking he would not submit it, and indeed that was very foolish on my part.

Zachis4wheeling: Unfortunately this only happened 2 years ago. Also, the state that I moved to, is the state that I had the issue in. I was visiting here at the time, and that is when I got the ticket. I never knew my driving privileges were suspended until I moved here and tried to get a drivers license. The DMV then told me about my failure to appear and failure to pay, and that I would not be able to get my drivers license until I pay those fines. Well I have paid the fines, I can now get a drivers license here no problem, but once I switch to this states drivers license, my DMV record check is going to show the failure to appear, and suspended driving privileges at one time. So that is why I am hesitant of going through with it and actually getting my drivers license here. Oh, and I have not applied for any departments in the state that I just moved to. All my applications are with departments outside of this state.

[powerhourcoug]

Even if it was 2 years ago I wouldn't sweat it too much. I really don't care who said who was a fool, or who was grossly wrong. The whole thing really isn't a big deal, honestly.

There will be a record of it, no matter what. And no matter what, it's really not a big deal.

[fire49]

it was only a speeding ticket

any other tickets in say the past five years????

we check any state you have lived in

just when you submit an application enclose a letter of explanation of what happened, and that you cleared it up as soom as you found out about.

Some cities may bump you, some may not

a good sign is the state issued you a drivers license!!!!!

[jtucker1384]

Most places have a limit of what you can have on your driving record but it is usually way more than one thing.

[FWDbuff]

I get the feeling we're not getting the whole story here......

When you were stopped, did you sign anything? Did you get a copy of the citation? Do you still have it???

Did you not get a subpoena or a notice to appear for the traffic citation? No offense, but courts usually don't make mistakes like "forgetting" to notify someone (especially a defendant) to appear. Not saying it didnt happen, but highly unlikely.

I, for one, would not want this on my record, whether I paid the fines or not, and especially if I was guilty or not. If the story you told was true about the two officers, I would have plead "NOT GUILTY" and requested a date, and I almost guarantee I could have gotten their case thrown out in a heartbeat. Nevertheless, they claim there was a court date, and they claim you failed to appear. Now, what are you going to do about it????

[rs2010]

I appreciate everyones opinion, it makes me feel a little better that this may not end my firefighting career, before it even starts.

To reply to FWDbuff, I have nothing to hide, and what I stated was the whole story. I did get a copy of the citation, and there was no court date written on that citation. I clearly remember the officer telling me I would get something in the mail with my court date on there. Unfortunately, I can not find that citation. I never said they "forgot" to send me a notice. I had just recently moved before I received that citation, and I am assuming the notice got send to the wrong address, and was never forwarded to me. That is why I called the courthouse two different times, and both times they said they did not have any record of my citation. But, they did state that the police officer has one full year to submit any citations. Well, that is where my fault lies. I should have kept calling back to see if the citation had been submitted. As absurd as it sounds, what I said about the two officers is completely true. I realize if I had gone to court for that citation, I could have had that dismissed. Well couldve, shouldve, wouldve. Obviously I would rather not have this on my record, but I don't see much recourse at this point. I have paid the fines, and that is all behind me. I'm just wondering where I go from here. If the fire departments I am applying for, do a 50 state DMV check, well I might as well go ahead and get the drivers license in this state and forget about moving back.

[rs2010]

it was only a speeding ticket

any other tickets in say the past five years????

we check any state you have lived in

just when you submit an application enclose a letter of explanation of what happened, and that you cleared it up as soom as you found out about.

Some cities may bump you, some may not

a good sign is the state issued you a drivers license!!!!!

Yes it was only a speeding ticket. The only other ticket I have had in the last 5 years was a fix it ticket for tinted windows, which I took care of. This is why this failure to appear thing caught me totally by surprise. I was depressed about it all day because I expected no problems whatsoever with my driving record. Now its going to show a failure to appear and a suspended license. Actually it still depresses me now. But thank you for the advice on the letter of explanation. I will have to write one up.

[paulLepore]

You will have to explain it, but unless there is more to it you do not have abything to worry about it. If this is your only blemish you should be fine. You have to be careful to make sure you do not have any other "issues" that pop up.
Once is an anomoly, twice is a pattern.

Clear it up and move on. Good luck!

[fire49]

Have you tried to get a copy of the ticket??


Maybe do an open records request any information and documentation they have on your case


One year to file a ticket That to me is a Problem should be shorter time as in 2 weeks 4 at the most