Regional Airline Applicant with Upcoming Driving Violation. Advice needed!

About a month ago, I got caught going 91 in a 55. 36mph over! I spoke with a couple lawyers and they said that in my county, anything over 30mph is almost a guaranteed 12 month license suspension. Some lawyers said they might be able to plea it down to a reckless driving charge. I have a perfect record otherwise. I am 24. Court date is in a few weeks.

Here's the problem, I am 3 months away from my R-ATP minimums and I am going to start interviewing and applying for regional jobs soon. Do I hope for the reckless and move on? Am I screwed? and if so, how badly?

 

Claim a momentary lapse, tell the judge a suspension will mess up your employment, you are a pilot, ask for mercy, swear he'll never see you again for something like this. Then stop driving like a dick.

 

May be money well spent to hire a good local attorney who knows the characters in play here...

 

Key ^^^^^^^^

 

There’s almost a zero percent chance that this will affect your application. Just report it on your airline apps and move on.

 

-OP here-
The Attorney I'm most likely going to pick basically said that I have to really hope for a careless and reckless and he told me that even with a clean record, driving school, and community service, the C&R is not guaranteed.
Which is worse in an interview, a applicant that has a C&R, or an actively suspended license? I can't be an instructor for a whole nother year in this ****ty flight school!

 

Just for the record, does that mean have never been guilty of speeding before, or that you have never been caught before.
The judge is going to believe the latter unless you can convince him otherwise.

 

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)

 

North Carolina. All I have right now is a speeding citation stating that I was doing 91 in a 55. If I plead guilty to that, it's an automatic 12 month suspension when you go above 30mph in that county. Pretty much my only option is to plead to reckless driving in order to get the speed portion of the charge to disappear. And that's if I'm lucky and they feel bad enough for me to switch it to reckless.

 

Work on your judgement skills before flying paying passengers.

 

You’re worried about a regional airline job? Get a suspension and that’s reportable on your next medical - question 18.v
See page 61 of the MedXpress User Guide.

You also consent to an NDR check in Q20, so don’t try to hide it if you get the conviction.

Hope that 91mph in a 55 was worth it.

 

In CT they'll often drop a traffic charge down one level (30 over drops to 20 over, etc.) if you make a donation to the Policeman's Fund or similar law enforcement charity and plead go the lesser charge. But that probably isn't an option in a strict enforcement county that depends on traffic fine money.

 

-OP Here-
To clarify my reason for posting: I am either getting my driver's license suspended for 12 months, or if I play my cards right, I'll get a reckless driving charge instead. I am wondering how badly, if at all, these two outcomes will affect my interview/application process in a few months (at the regionals).
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.

 

Suspended license may be an issue but I’d try to at least get it knocked down to reckless driving. Either way, they’re going to run a DMV background check. Honestly in this hiring age, you probably won’t even get to a regional class for at least 6 months. I hear everything is way backed up.

 

If you plead temporary insanity, and then get Dr. Chein's help - maybe it'll all go away.
Just don't take any SSRI's for the temporary insanity thing.

How about Part 135 stuff? Ferry pilot jobs? Pipeline?

 

Uh, I need a flight instructor… Speeding, meh. Don’t fly my planes TOO SLOW!

 

I like the cut of your sail!
My CFI is always pointing out the fact that I am rolling out some flaps while still a bit above the white arc...

 

C-172? First notch IS above white arc…

 

Yes, 172H, no notches, flaps in motion while switch is held in position - 0 to 40 degrees and back. I prefer notches though since that's the way my simulator is set up and I don't have to watch the indicator while holding the switch.

 

You could show up with an envelope stuffed full of photos of Benjamin Franklin. Of course that could get you even more time to sit around and think things over ...

 

haha very clever, but my attorney advised against this

 

Just my 2 cents, I don't know speeding in NC vs NY. But I do know that in some states they are aware about the issues to getting a suspension if you drive commercially, and sometimes that helps. So if you get a chance to talk to the cop or whomever is prosecuting it at trial time, you might mention that you have a commercial pilots license, and that you don't have any excuse except you weren't paying enough attention to your speed. Good luck! When I was 24 I drove way too fast, too. Back then it was easier. If you were fast and sober it was usually just fines.

 

What, in your opinion, might be the result of a “momentary lapse of judgment” for an aircraft and its passengers were you PIC when the lapse occurred?

How might an airline view that?

I’m not judging your speeding. Heck, you should see how I ride a motorcycle. But I think you might want to reconsider your “poor judgment” explanation.

 

It's not that deep. It's called compartmentalization. The way I drive is not the way I fly.
Are you trying to tell me you've never had a lead foot in your younger years?

 

Not at all. Did you read my post? I’m simply pointing out how an airline might view the matter. Something for you to consider before you start saying things like “lapse of judgment” and “compartmentalization.”

 

Airlines don’t give a crap about ANY of this. They spend untold millions to find ways to cull out (unreasonably) compulsive (read compliant) people that simultaneously have an ability and knack to manage an airplane.

This whole “what do you think they’ll think about your judgement” notion is misguided. They don’t want you to execute judgement. They want you to do what you’re told, period. And they will tell you to do unsafe things…

 

Just count the potatoes

 

That sounds like a Br-Y-an solution. Seen the attempt more than a few times in his videos

 

I wouldn't worry about it. I doubt it will come up in an interview, but you can always say that "the only law I ever broke was speeding" see where that gets you.

 

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.

 

NC is pretty draconian with their speeding laws too apparently. When the officer pulled me over, I told him that I was a pilot, and I was also very cooperative. He specifically said that he would write good things in the notes on my behalf. I will take your advice and attempt to reach out to him.

On another note, a couple people have mentioned speaking to the judge. I plan on having a lawyer take care of all this, would it be advisable to personally appear before the judge and plea? or does that come later in the legal process? My first date is on 2/7 and they told me that will be a quick "what are your intentions" sort of meeting. Of all the lawyers I spoke to, they said me appearing would be of little significance.

 

Tell him it was accidental more right rudder.

 

I mind my business when I drive in NC. The NC state patrol especially is merciless.

 

Or… his girlfriend or ex-wife ran off with a police officer. Speeding was actually in a police chance because he thought the LEO was trying to return her.

 

Appearing in person!!!! Personal opinion, if you bring one, tell him ti STFU! lawyers are just window dressing at these. This isn’t a deep case. You being there and pleading your case, willingness to take a driving remedial course, speak at drivers ed classes, high schools, about the penalties…. Get in front of this. Start doing these things so you can show the court you don’t have to be told. I own it, I corrected my ways, I’m actively trying to harp
Others not screw chances up. At the end of your sincere explanation, tell how bad this may clip your wings. I bet you get a break. We do also occasionally do a l
“File” on these. This means if you don’t sin for a year you can ask to have it dismissed. Don’t know if that’s an option in NC, but might want to check. Or have the lawyer who’s sucking your money with an industrial Hoover. Seriously, I’d get info from him but if he has to be in court tell him you’ll do all the talking. Lawyers have a great way of trying to do something to look needed. Almost always it fails.

 

JUST DRIVE SLOWER. 91 in a 55 IS RIDICULOUS BEHAVIOUR.
Unfortunately, compartmentalization does break down and chief pilots “Get” this.
Just exert care in all you do…...

 

pfftt, leadfoot-wannabe.

(308km/hr=191mph)
"Or then there was the most outrageous of all, another teenager who was going a whopping 308 km/h on the QEW near Burlington in May— much faster than many cars can even go, faster than a Boeing 747 takeoff, and more than triple the speed limit of 100 km/h."

 

Not a lawyer and I did not stay at a Holiday in last night. Having said that I have been to court a couple times over the years because I fight any ticket I can because they will always reduce it. I have also dealt with this with my kids. Your lawyer if they are any good and connected at all in the county should be able to meet with the prosecutor long before this goes to court. If not this usually happens right before court. Typically these things are all worked out before the judge ever sees them. The judge is typically just going through the motions at that point. You could also explore a deferred adjudication. Basically you plead guilty but the conviction is set aside and if you meet the requirements of the judge/prosecutor then the conviction is dismissed. I have never done that personally but have heard of it being done.

ETA: Why are you in such a hurry?