How's it going everyone. Thought I would make a post hoping that it would help anyone in a similar situation. Alright, so basically I have two prior arrests both while in college, and both for Operating While Impaired/Intoxicated. The first offense, without going into much detail, I blew a 0.10 BAC and was subsequently arrested back in 2012 in Michigan before nursing school. HOWEVER, I got a lawyer who was crazy expensive but totally worth it, fought the charge and got in reduced to Reckless Driving no questions asked.
LISTEN HERE: IF ANYONE TELLS YOU THAT GETTING A CHARGE REDUCED OR EXPUNGED IS A WAIST OF TIME AND MONEY IS WRROOONNGGG!!!! Fight any charge you have, get it reduced!!! Alright so with the Reckless Driving on my record, I applied to nursing school and got into a BIG TEN University's Nursing Program with no questions asked regarding this offense. I was enrolled in nursing school and everything was going smoothly until I got arrested AGAIN, unfortunately in 2013.
To make a long story short: I slid up onto a snow bank pulling into my apartment complex, got stuck, flagged down a passing cop car for help, was Breathalyzed, and blew a 0.06 BAC. YES THAT IS RIGHT A 0.06 BAC!!!!! Below the legal limit. I don't want to minimize what I did, especially after my first incident I should not have even thought about drinking anything and driving. Especially being in nursing school. And yes if the cops a dick and feels like ******* you over he can charge you with whatever, so yes you can get charged with a OWI/DUI if you blow below the legal limit. So be super careful. So again I hired the same attorney, charged me a **** ton of money but I eventually got the charged dropped to OWVI (operating while visibly impaired or a BAC of 0.02-0.07, which is still a misdemeanor) then reduced further after a probationary period to a careless driving, which is a civil infraction (not a misdemeanor like Reckless or OWVI or a DUI/OWI).
But I had to work my ass off to get this charged reduced, I was on probation and had to do alcohol testing everyday for 3 months straight, then after that weekly ETG tests that go back like 3-4 days to see if any alcohol is in your system for another 3 months. I had to do alcohol classes weekly and the whole shebang. But eventually after the 6 months it was erased off my record and reduced to a careless, basically a speeding ticket.
Bare with me I'm getting there....so when I graduated and went to apply for my Michigan RN license I was a little nervous. But I filled out the application, and on the section where it stated to write down any criminal CONVICTIONS I stated that I was CONVICTED of a reckless driving, and since I graduated in August and the OWVI was going to be reduced to a careless in that upcoming October, I stated that I have an OWVI, which is getting reduced in a few months to a careless, or a speeding tx. Called about 3-4 weeks after I sent in my application and the BON was like "YOU ARE GOOD, ALL CLEAR!" Didn't have to send in any court documentation or anything.
So NOTE when applying places if it asks for ANY CONVICTIONS* If an application asks for PAST CHARGES, be wary about applying to that state for your license because that means ANY CHARGES* even if they were expunged or reduced. So I took my NCLEX and passed! Then after I passed my boards, my parents moved to Louisiana and I decided to follow, work down south, and try something new.
So I applied for my RN-BY ENDORSEMENT LICENSE. I was a little scared to apply for my License in Louisiana. After I read the application it stated under the criminal history section to INCLUDE ANY CHARGES THAT HAVE BEEN DROPPED OR EXPUNGED and to send in the arresting records and court documents. So basically the Louisiana BON knows what I was originally arrested for. But I thought I got my license in Michigan no problem so Louisiana wouldn't have an issue with my record. WRONG!!!
Basically took them 2 months to investigate my criminal background. After that and calling them weekly for about 2 months, they told me it has been recommended to delay your application for 5 years!!!!!!!! NOOOOOO!!!! I already got hired down there as an RN, but wasn't working due to my application pending. So I had to quit the place I got hired at before even working because I couldn't get my license and explained the situation. I could have appealed the BON's decision regarding my license but that would have cost $$$$$$ in lawyer fees and taken months just to get a probationary license. And if you notice when applying to any other states by endorsement or renewing your RN license, and even on job applications there's a section that asks if your RN license has EVER BEEN REVOKED, DENIED, or put on PROBATION, and etc by any licensing agency. Whhhoooooo, nope!!!!! As soon as I saw that on the Texas RN-Endorsement application and when renewing my Michigan RN license I immediately called up the Louisiana BON withdrew my RN application.
So my point here is if you have a criminal record, RESEARCH THE STATES you want to apply for. Louisiana includes expunged misdemeanors so if you have a few misdemeanors, especially alcohol or drug related DON'T APPLY THERE. But Michigan I had no issue.
And Texas on the other hand, their application specifically states you DON'T have to include expunged charges or class C traffic misdemeanors. So technically I don't think I even need to include my reckless driving on the texas application but I did so just to be safe. And if it's too late and you sent your RN application to a state like Cali or Louisiana who's super strict with past criminal charges; WITHDRAW YOUR APPLICATION BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!!!! You don't want to have to check yes to YES MY LICENSE HAS BEEN REJECTED BY..., or YES MY LICENSE HAS BEEN PUT ON PROBATION or YES MY LICENSE WAS DENIED BY....and have to explain this.
I know I made some poor choices in the past while at college, but I'm looking forward to moving on with my career and staying out of trouble. I'm currently moving back to Michigan from Louisiana because of this whole licensing ordeal. Thought I would try to make the most of my situation and try to help others out in the same boat, so feel free to message me or reply with any questions. Best of luck to everyone!! AND ABOVE ALL DON'T GIVE UP AND FIGHT ANY CHARGES!!
Omegaseamaster
38 Posts
Hello, glad to see this thread still going. In response to Rachel North, I feel like you should be completely fine. Especially if you got it dropped to a reckless driving. I would look at the application. If it says you have to submit the arrest records and court documents it’ll show that you were arrested originally for a DUI/OWI. So be honest with them. I would also recommend doing a background check on yourself to make sure it was reduced on your criminal record. Also call the Secretary of State or DMV to make sure it was reduced in your driving record.