Speeding tickets and employment

U.S.A. Texas

Published

Uugghh!!!! I did not know speeding tickets are class c misdemeanors in Texas. I had to resubmit application with correction to question asking if I had a misdemeanor. I already had interview but they are doing background check now. I was told at first that they will not hire you if you have a speeding ticket because it is a criminal offense but then was told to submit info and that it won't cause me to not get the job. How many of you have speeding tickets and have jobs? I'm so stressed. To think my whole career is over because of a speeding ticket is just the worse thing I can imagine.

Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
DONT WORRY! I live in Texas and have TONS of speeding tickets. Yes, a speeding ticket is a class C misdemeanor, but it is always an exception.

...and I don't appreciate the leave texas comment either! hahaha

TONS of speeding tickets? Wow, such little regard for a simple thing as driving the speed limit. Makes one wonder about the big things. Just sayin.....

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When we lived in Texas my husband always had to put down his speeding tickets on job applications that didn't specify traffic tickets.

My husband is from Texas and we lived there off and on for 20 years. To my knowledge it is the only state that will give a 6th grader a ticket for "disorderly conduct: obscene gesture". He flipped the bird from one bus to another on a field trip. (his friend on the other bus was doing it back but wasn't seen doing it by a teacher) AND an 8th grader (different son) a ticket for "Disruption of school activity" because some other kids had surrounded him before school trying to pick a fight. Teachers witnessed it, my son and 2 others were suspended and given tickets the next day because of the 'stir it made during the day'. I hate night court.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
A speeding ticket is not a criminal offense. Yes, you broke the law, but unless you were handcuffed, read your rights, photographed, and fingerprinted, you were NOT charged/convicted of a CRIME. In any state, I'd wager.

In my state exceeding 85 MPH, even on a 75 MPH highway is a criminal misdemeanor. The cops skip the arrest part and just issue the criminal speeding ticket. I know because I received this charge. I didn't know my speeding ticket was a criminal misdemeanor charge until I closely read it.

I got out of a criminal conviction on my record by attending traffic school - the criminal charge was dismissed.

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Specializes in family practice.

I never knew that having a speeding ticket was a criminal offense. i guess you learn something new everyday.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
I never knew that having a speeding ticket was a criminal offense. i guess you learn something new everyday.

Most speeding tickets are NOT criminal offenses. It depends on the jurisdiction and speed.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Wow, I never heard of traffic tickets being anything other than an infraction, which doesn't have to be reported on the vast majority of applications.

Where you get into misdemeanor territory in my neck of the woods is failure to appear/failure to pay a fine. (Not that I personally would know anything about that, of course.:o:chair: ) Sheesh, what a stupid thing to have to list on a nursing school application, or a licensing application, or a job application....I kicked myself about that for YEARS. :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Glad I don't live in Texas! Nowadays companies can find out if we have speeding tickets or bad credit, but I've never worried about a speeding ticket. Wouldn't think that would keep me from getting a job.

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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.
True, I didn't think of it that way. I feel so dumb that I didn't know speeding tickets were class c misdemeanors. But I'm

glad I asked HR and corrected the form because I don't want them to think I'm dishonest, just not very educated in the law. Lol! I always think of criminal offenses as drugs, violence, theft, but never thought about speeding ticket. What would I do without Allnurses? I would be totally stressed out and alone. So nice to have a place to go to and vent.:)

IMO, you did the right thing.

I don't see how on earth a speeding ticket would make them think you are any less qualified or a "risky hire". On the other hand, I could see them thinking to themselves "Hmmm, why did she not admit this?".

You took the action to correct it. Good job.

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Specializes in Float.

I wouldnt stress it, just say you got tickets from speeding. I went to jail for driving on a suspended license because of a strict speeding law for people under 21 in georgia that resulted in an immediate license suspension. I was driving 80 in atlanta on the freeway. Charges were dropped but itll always show that ive been to jail. Got a job a year later at the hospital and almost 2 years later getting ready to graduate from nursing school. Just be honest about it, nursing is the largest medical profession out there. Do you actually think every nurse out there never been to jail in their life or even gotten a speeding ticket lol.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Cardiac.

It never occurred to me to tell anybody about my speeding tickets (2 tickets, 3 warnings). Don't think it's necessary in PA.

As for the comments about not speeding, on my way to work everybody is about 10 mph over the limit. It's a fairly busy road at rush hour. The problems start when we do happen to have somebody doing the speed limit, especially in the left lane. Sort of like a rock in a fast stream and all kinds of strange traffic things happen in their vicinity.

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hey, just wondering did you contact your state BON regarding your speeding ticket and arrest and in to jail? I guess you must tell them honestly right ?

I have twice detained (or you can say arrest ) record but they are all dismissed and sealed and i am told this is not convinction or criminal charges whatsoever .My case is i was a abused women by my ex husband at that time and he set me up by putting a staying order of protection against me and i was throw out of the home diereclty with no money, food ,clothes or anything. I am new to this country and no friends neither .So i went back home and got arrested .that is it, i was sent to shelter later or help . but that happened another time after i went of of shelter and isn't it ridiculous? That is my story. I am pre-nursing student and right now i worry about this.

I called BON where i want to go for nursing and possibly get license in the future ,the staff said that it wont prevent me from getting licensed.

I think i should be okay in the future, I was young and i did make mistake on men because that is my first love and first marriage in another country, so i screwed it up. But besides that , i am pretty okay without even a warning on the roads on my car... and i think everybody made mistakes especially when they are young .what we need to do is be honest with them and tell them that right now we are on the right track towards life and we are going to get better and better for sure!!!

Hope this helps !!

I wouldnt stress it, just say you got tickets from speeding. I went to jail for driving on a suspended license because of a strict speeding law for people under 21 in georgia that resulted in an immediate license suspension. I was driving 80 in atlanta on the freeway. Charges were dropped but itll always show that ive been to jail. Got a job a year later at the hospital and almost 2 years later getting ready to graduate from nursing school. Just be honest about it, nursing is the largest medical profession out there. Do you actually think every nurse out there never been to jail in their life or even gotten a speeding ticket lol.
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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Point of clarification - speeding tickets & other moving violations - are directly applicable & relevant in Home Care jobs. Many Home Care companies do an annual check on driving records in order to monitor this on a continuous basis. They can't afford to employ risky drivers because if they cause an accident while they are 'on the clock', the company can be sued for damages. They normally won't hire people with bad driving records and have policies and procedures in place that result in progressive discipline in case of any moving violations for incumbent employees. Just sayin'. . . .

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