Can Tickets cause a problem getting a job as a police officer?

Question

I recieved a hefty handful of moving violations with a pravisional license and in return lost it for 6 months

I recieved

Reckless driving- Dismissed

Failure to keep right- Guilty

no Right on red- Guilty/Plead down to unsafe driving

Tailgating-Guilty- Guilty/Plead down to unsafe driving

Speeding 75-55- Guilty/Plead down to a non moving violation

Driving after twelve on a pravisional license- Guilty

Careless driving- dismissed

Running a red light-In process

Also a couple of non moving violations

My question is, will these violations make a huge difference when I try and become a police officer? If so will the dismissed violations even come up? Also will the checker see the result (plead down vio) or the original violation? Also do they even check, Im 17 still so not 18.

Answer 1

The first and foremost thing is to be honest during your background investigation/interview. Admit to any traffic citation, warning or dismissal. As for will it affect your chances it depends on the agency you are applying for. My advice, if you really want to be in law enforcement is to watch your driving habits from here on out. The best thing you can do for yourself is to simply be honest with your background investigator.

Answer 2

They absolutely can. Here's how.

1. Violation of speed limits is violation of the law. No matter how you try to justify it, you broke the law. What agency wants a cop like that?

2. Agencies have vehicles and those vehicles are covered by insurance companies. An insurance company is not too willing to cover a new rookie that has already amassed a large number of traffic tickets.

3. You speed and drive recklessly. And that is without the adrenaline pumping from the flashing lights and the wail of a siren. We as officers do drive fast when we have to, but we also drive smart and within our capabilities. Because we are no good to our fellow officers or general public if we crash and burn before we get to the scene.

And at the age of 17. why would anyone have allowed you to drive their car?

Answer 3

In California...

You can't get hired on until you're 20.5 years old and can't get POST qualified until you're 21.

Still, at 21 those tickets will only be 5 or so years old.  It will not bode well for you, not at all.

The dismissed tickets will come up because you will have to disclose them to a background investigator. If you do not, you will be automatically booted.  Full disclosure and honesty or no job in LE.

Answer 4

Ok, the short answer is that it might.  Let me explain...during a background investigation, criminal and traffic history are two of the things that are examined very closely.  Among other things, the department is looking to see 1.  Did you have any criminal and/or traffic offenses, 2.  if so, what were they, 3. When were they (how recent) ?, and 4. is there a repeated pattern of misconduct, or was this a one time thing.  It depends on the department (mostly the chief of police or sherriff as the case may be) as to what they consider when it comes to hiring someone.  Thinking about the chief that I worked under, if he looked at this and had to decide right this minute whether to hire you, the answer would be "h**l NO", and I think that would be the response with most chiefs of police...with all the negative things that have happened in policing of late, they are taking an even bigger interest in the backgrounds of police applicants than they ever have.

The problem that you have right now is that you have a long list, it has some serious violations (reckless/careless driving), and what it will say to a police agency if they were to look at it right now, this minute: "I have a repeat pattern of irresponsiblity and disregard for my safety and the safety of others and I cannot be trusted to conduct myself in a safe and professional manner"  If they had to make the decision of whether to hire you or not right now, they probably would not, and that is because police officers MUST conduct themselves with professionalism, and they must have excellent judgment (although some out there have neither).  If you were a police officer, you would have to be driving a car for several hours a day, and the public would expect you to be the example setter, not to mention you would also be responsible for enforcing traffic laws.

As far as will they find out about all this, and will they see the original violation and what it was pled down to, etc....YES, they will.  A background investigator will be able to find out all of that through a criminal/traffic record check, which will list the court/state/location/arresting department and a bunch of other stuff.  If need be, they can contact the arresting/citing department and get copies of each of the original citations, etc.  In short, yeah they will figure it all out...not to mention that if you were trying to be hired as a police officer, you will have to (REPEAT HAVE TO) be totally honest when you are answering the background investigation questionnaire.

Having said all that, however, you still do have one advantage here, and that is your YOUTH.  You are 17, meaning that all this traffic stuff has happened since you were, Im guessing 15 or 16.  In most states, you have to be 21 in order to be a hired as a police officer anyway, so you have 3 or 4 years yet.  In that time period, if you REALLY want to become a law enforcement officer you will need to keep a totally clean criminal/driving record from this point forward...in other words, no more stupid stuff behind the wheel of a car (or anywhere for that matter).  You are gooing to have to show them that all this was while you were still a teen, and that you have changed, and are capable of being responsible.  You have time to make some real changes in your life, if this is what you really want to do.  Also, I would tell you to prepare for college as well, as most agencies want at least 2 years of college (4 would be even better).

Anyway, I don't mean to sound pessimistic about your chances, I'm just shooting straight with you, which is what I assume you would want.  I'm assuming that by asking the question, you are truly interested, and want to be a cop, and I think that is awesome.

  You may ask how I know about all this stuff?  Well, I was a police officer for 8 years in south central Missouri.  2 of those years were in the investigations unit, and I had to do many background investigations.

Anyway, bottom line is this....you have a lot of changes to make in the next few years, but I think that you can do it, and I think that you can be successful.  But, you have to start today with that...No more tickets, no more examples of misconduct or irresponsibility, etc.  from this point forward.  You are going to have to demonstrate that you are a responsible, law abiding person from now on in every aspect of your life (not just behind the wheel of a car).   Make sense?

If you want/need further info or have other questions, feel free to ask.  [e-mail]

Answer 5

They shouldn't! For one thing, they already know you drive fast!

Answer 6

no, no and double no. a traffic ticket is a violation not a crime. you pay it and that's it.