speeding tickets, and lots of past jobs

[DACremeans]

i am curious about how differant Departments deny you a job opportunity due to numerous traffic violations, i.e. speeding tickets. 5 violations in 5 years doesnt seem that bad to me, but i dont know the insurance underwriters policy. Also, will having a "floating" job background be a disadvantage to me?

[Bones42]

Speeding tickets would not keep you off my department. They may hinder you becoming a driver, but would not keep you from being a FF. As for the "floating" job backround, once we contacted them and find nothing bad reported by them about you, would not stop you.

Just to note, I am a volunteer department.

[FDengine13]

Just for your frame of reference 5 speeding tickets in 5 years is definitely considered excessive.

It also is an indication of immaturity and a lack of respect for society's rules.

Remember as a firefighter we are expected to be better than the rest.

The way you drive, pay your bills and ineteract with your co-workers is a statement of who you are.

We have the ability to choose from a large applicant pool. We will choose the best. In addition to a rigorous testing process we will run you through an extensive background check.

Beleive me when I tell you you will be held accountable for your actions.

The best thing you can do is SLOW DOWN for not only your sake but for every one else's sake as well.

Slowing down will accomplish a couple of things. First and foremost it may keep you or even someone else alive. Secondly, you will not get tickets. Time is your friend. The longer you go with a clean driving record, the better your chances.

[mittlesmertz]

Many depts view a poor driving record as a reflection on your character. This may make getting hiredvery difficult. I also had a handful of tickets when I started testing. On the advice of a nice Chief, I went back to school and started volunteering for 2 years, which gave time for most of the tickets to drop off my record. When I started testing again, I only had 1 ticket on my absract, and alot more positive things on my resume.
Sure, it took an extra 2 years, but it gave me LOTS of time to think about my mistakes.

[CaptBob]

The problem is young lads have 30 times more testosterone than women. It's rocket fuel. When boys reach pruperty they are given a huge dose of testosterone. We lapse into a stupid stage. Some of us never come out of it. Ask your mom the other ladies in your life. That testosterone is why we men do all the crazy things we do. Race cars, jump out of airplanes, get into fights, join the military, want to be firefighers, play sports and keep from seeing the big picture. I tell women you wouldn't want to be walking around with this stuff in your body. It's ugly.

At some point in time maturity and logic will take back control from testosterone. mittlesmertz and the others are right here that you need to put things into play that demonstrate you have accepted responsibility and that kid does not live here anymore.

I know first hand. I served 5 days in Santa Rita Prison for drag racing in my youth. Yes, I put it on my application, because if you don’t and they find out, you’re gone. In my oral board, I was asked about this. I told the panel, “Since that incident, I had been in the army, married, have children, had been on my job for 9 years and the situation hasn’t occurred again. I was a stupid kid then. It’s hard to believe this really had happened.” One of the captains asked, “Mr. Smith are you trying to get go around this problem and ignore it?” Here’s the “Nugget” answer; I said, “No. If I was trying to do that I would have never put it done on the application.” He was done with that question.

When I got my results for that test, the number placement wasn’t on the notice. When I called, personnel told me, “Well, Mr. Smith, you’re number one. Not only are you number one, you’re five full points ahead of number two!” It was having a reasonable explanation prepared in advance that becomes your “Nugget” answers that makes the difference.

That question and the “Nugget” answer probably helped, not hurt me. It catapulted me past the other candidates at light speed, and did indeed get me my badge!

You can find more on testing secrets in the Career Article section from the Jobs drop down menu just above this posting.

"Nothing counts 'til you have the badge . . . Nothing!"

Fire "Captain Bob" Author, Becoming A Firefighter and
Conquer Fire Department Oral Boards

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