Regional Airline Applicant with Upcoming Driving Violation. Advice needed!

[TCABM]

That used to be a big problem in Texas...

Steve Earle memorialized Selma, TX for that in his song, Guitar Town. Here’s an article on the subject from 1974.

https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/the-perfect-speed-trap/

Selma has gotten better and the state has done a lot to crack down on speed traps and then, later, red light cameras. But some towns, like Leon Valley still harass folks passing thru.

 

[Half Fast]

Waldo, FL and Lawty, FL were both such notorious speed traps along US 301 that they were listed as such by the AAA. The speed limit drops by about 30mph, and for years it did so without warning signs about reduced speed ahead. Many complaints were made to the state, leading to investigations (Florida outlawed ticket quotas a long time ago).

Waldo disbanded their police department some years ago (that’s another story), and the AAA dropped the speed trap designation for both towns in 2018.

https://www.gainesville.com/story/n...y-no-longer-speed-traps-aaa-says/11556322007/

 

[PPC1052]

haha very clever, but my attorney advised against this

 

[WDD]

As mentioned before, you might be able to get it reduced by paying a large fine to something similar to a parking ticket. IF this is your first time getting a speeding ticket - at least in a good while.

Great advice to get a local lawwer who knows how things work in your court system.

 

[sourdough44]

Can a pilot applicant have to clean of a record?? I mean, come on, sometimes you have to know ways to get things done.
I realize the stock answer is ‘no’, maybe for many that’s the real answer too. Just thinking about a few youthful indiscretions, forgive me.

 

[Daleandee]

Could offer to work for the Adopt-A -Highway program. I think all you need is a stick with a nail in the end and a plastic bag ...

 

[TommyG]

Work on your judgement skills before flying paying passengers.

The kid was speeding, can you say you never drove above the speed limit?

 

[2-Bit Speed]

There are differences between five-over, fifteen-over, and fifty-over. In this case, the OP was closer to fifty over than fifteen.

 

[aftCG]

When the officer pulled me over, I told him that I was a pilot [snip]

Wait. Really?

"I like waffles". Just as relevant.

 

[WDD]

You: Officer, I’m a pilot

Officer: You weren’t cleared for that take off run now were you.

 

[Graybeard]

Like the previous post, get a lawyer and plea a deal. I agree that getting the prosecutor to see how this may affect your career would be the best bet. If not, then the same with the judge. The lawyer will be the key, I think. Choose wisely.

 

[jordane93]

Like the previous post, get a lawyer and plea a deal. I agree that getting the prosecutor to see how this may affect your career would be the best bet. If not, then the same with the judge. The lawyer will be the key, I think. Choose wisely.

Lol. One speeding ticket will not affect the OP’s career. There are people who’ve done far worse and are at legacies and majors.

 

[Dana]

I used to drive Rt. 17 in central NY fairly regularly back around 1980. It was a 4 lane divided highway, but mot limited access. At one point at the bottom of a long hill there was a small town and cross road... with a traffic light. In all the times I drove through, I only saw the light red one time. As I rolled to a stop, I noted the cop parked behind the adjacent billboard.

"Hey Barney, the town budget's running a bit low. Switch the light to red and collect some out of towners, OK?"

 

[Graybeard]

Lol. One speeding ticket will not affect the OP’s career. There are people who’ve done far worse and are at legacies and majors.

Maybe, good times currently for pilots looking to move up. The OP is concerned about the ticket, maybe overly so but I would council my son to do the same in his position. Every and any demerit you have to own up to or note on an application puts the chance you will not be considered at risk. I’ll make the same case for education. Many have cried about the requirements for a college degree at legacy carriers, now under pressure of demand, that requirement is easing. I still say get the degree. Does the minimum requirement require it? No, but if you want the best chance of being a pilot at one of the premiere employers, I would strongly suggest get the degree. JMHO.

 

[jordane93]

Maybe, good times currently for pilots looking to move up. The OP is concerned about the ticket, maybe overly so but I would council my son to do the same in his position. Every and any demerit you have to own up to or note on an application puts the chance you will not be considered at risk. I’ll make the same case for education. Many have cried about the requirements for a college degree at legacy carriers, now under pressure of demand, that requirement is easing. I still say get the degree. Does the minimum requirement require it? No, but if you want the best chance of being a pilot at one of the premiere employers, I would strongly suggest get the degree. JMHO.

I agree trying to make your application as squeaky clean as possible, but I wouldn’t lose sleep over this

 

[cowtowner]

Steve Earle memorialized Selma, TX for that in his song, Guitar Town. Here’s an article on the subject from 1974.

https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/the-perfect-speed-trap/

Selma has gotten better and the state has done a lot to crack down on speed traps and then, later, red light cameras. But some towns, like Leon Valley still harass folks passing thru.

My wife is from Leon Valley and my mother in law lives there. In 25 years of going to visit, I've been pulled over 10 times. One night coming home from Luby's of all place I was pulled over for not signaling during a lane change.

They young coo "smelled what he thought was alcohol on my breath".....I don't drink. When he asked me to get out of my truck, I asked him to roll a supervisor. The SGT showed up and was more of an ass than the patrol officer. I then didn't say another word other than "am I being detained?, if not I request to leave."

After an hour of their nonsense they finally let me go, but did give me a ticket for the improper lane change. I fought the ticket and won. My lawyer put the cop on the stand and got the cop to admit he was lying to me when he "smelled alcohol". My lawyer then asked him "If you'd lie to a citizen, doesn't that mean you'd lie about the improper signal?"
They immediately dropped the case. But I didn't. Made complaints about the cop and the SGT all the way to Austin. Didn't do a damn thing to change them, and they are still a POS force. I wanted to sue them for a breach of my civil rights, but my lawyer said I needed about $200k

 

[drummer4468]

In Maine 30+ is criminal speed. I’ve personally seen the obscene fine amount lowered and even jail time switched to 50 or so hours of community service. I’d recommend owning it to the judge and as for whatever help they are willing to give with your situation. Don’t know about NC, but Maine don’t play. I’ve cut a break to drivers who owned it, were remorseful, and had a virgin clean record. By break I mean lowered to a mile under criminal speed because I knew in court they were screwed. Did you ask the Officer for consideration? It can’t hurt. Worse you’ll get is no. So that’s my advice from 20 years in the business. Your mileage may vary. Good luck.

Can confirm. I was riding "spiritedly" down the road to school one day, and saw the blues flashing behind me. First time I ever had a (very agitated) cop snatch the keys off my bike. Once I got my helmet off, could understand what he was saying, I started processing words like "criminal speeding" and about soiled myself. He said he clocked me at 71 in what I genuinely thought was a 55. To my dismay and confusion, he assured me that it was in fact a 40mph zone(the speed limits fluctuate quite a bit between 35 and 55 in that area).

I owned up to it the best I could; "Yeah you've got me dead to rights on speeding, but I swear I didn't know I was in a 40." Thankfully he relaxed a bit and showed some mercy, handed my keys back, and marked it down to 69mph. Still a hefty ticket that my insurance really didn't like, but at least I wasn't in handcuffs with an impounded bike. I'm still trying to sell that damn thing, it's gotten me into trouble a couple times now. A cushy 1000cc sport cruiser is so damn hard to keep under 80 without staring at the speedo...

 

[Daleandee]

A cushy 1000cc sport cruiser is so damn hard to keep under 80 without staring at the speedo...

It ain't just the sport cruisers. I'm riding an 1800 VTX and it doesn't start to feel comfortable until 70 or so ...

 

[drummer4468]

It ain't just the sport cruisers. I'm riding an 1800 VTX and it doesn't start to feel comfortable until 70 or so ...

Funny you say that, I actually almost traded it for a VTX 1800 but the guy backed out cause the Concours didn't quite fit his....larger stature. I find it much easer to lay off the throttle when I'm sitting back with my feet kicked up, rather than naturally hunched over the tank/bars in go-fast posture. This bike is basically a fattened Ninja 1000 with side bags and air ride.

 

[Daleandee]

Funny you say that, I actually almost traded it for a VTX 1800 but the guy backed out cause the Concours didn't quite fit his....larger stature. I find it much easer to lay off the throttle when I'm sitting back with my feet kicked up, rather than naturally hunched over the tank/bars in go-fast posture. This bike is basically a fattened Ninja 1000 with side bags and air ride.

I find that speed is quite addictive. In my old age I really focus on slowing it down and enjoying the ride but having a big motor attached to the twisty grip can be problematic at times ...

 

[Half Fast]

I find that speed is quite addictive. In my old age I really focus on slowing it down and enjoying the ride but having a big motor attached to the twisty grip can be problematic at times ...

Yeah, I didn’t get a motorcycle to go slow....


(And the older I get, the faster I was.)

 

[172andyou]

haha, to clarify, this is my first time being caught speeding. On the books, I am a perfectly clean. (though I did get a warning in the summer on the same road)

"First time caught" is a lie. You were also caught the previous summer on the same road. And didn't learn a lesson.

Thank you all for the responses so far, the speeding was a momentary lapse of judgement and I am hoping the judge, airline, and you guys can see that.

Not momentary. Getting caught twice in a year is a clear demonstration of repetitive behavior. It's like drunk driving. Almost no one gets caught their first time. And you got caught and still didn't modify your behavior. Must be behaving worse, actually, cause no one is giving you a warning for 30 over the limit. So you got a warning and decided to go faster.

Are you trying to tell me you've never had a lead foot in your younger years?

And, finally, the truth comes out. He's a lead foot and using youth as a mitigating factor.

As others have pointed out. This isn't likely to change your career path. But it probably should. You seem clearly happy to shade the truth about how you drive, how often you have been caught and think that being young is an reasonable excuse. Or, worse, think that you should be able to go to the hiring manager and say, "hey man, I drive like a crazy person but it's fine because I compartmentalize and I would never dream of doing something unsafe in a plane."

 

[EdFred]

"First time caught" is a lie. You were also caught the previous summer on the same road. And didn't learn a lesson.



Not momentary. Getting caught twice in a year is a clear demonstration of repetitive behavior. It's like drunk driving. Almost no one gets caught their first time. And you got caught and still didn't modify your behavior. Must be behaving worse, actually, cause no one is giving you a warning for 30 over the limit. So you got a warning and decided to go faster.



And, finally, the truth comes out. He's a lead foot and using youth as a mitigating factor.

As others have pointed out. This isn't likely to change your career path. But it probably should. You seem clearly happy to shade the truth about how you drive, how often you have been caught and think that being young is an reasonable excuse. Or, worse, think that you should be able to go to the hiring manager and say, "hey man, I drive like a crazy person but it's fine because I compartmentalize and I would never dream of doing something unsafe in a plane."

In the words of Sgt Hulka...