Applying with little driving experience

[Turion]

Hello everybody.

Just wanted to get your take on something. I'm hoping to apply to law enforcement agencies soon. I feel fairly well-prepared EXCEPT for one issue:

I have only had my driver's license for a MONTH! Does it even make sense for me to apply now or should I wait until I have more driving experience? Would they toss out my application just for that reason, or could they work with me? Obviously I should ask the individual agencies, but I'm just scared they'll laugh me right out of their office.

Any thoughts?

[Ispbear]

Other than the nagging question in my head that wonders how old you are and why you have only had your license for a month, I will try to give you how I look at the situation.

In firearms training we can teach almost everyone how to shoot proficiently. However, driving and especially pursuit driving builds off of a lot of previous experience that you do not have. You will also have to pass a driving course in the academy. I would hate to see you fail one aspect of the academy if your excelling in all other categories. My opinion is to wait a year or two and get a little driving experience under your belt and then apply.

[Turion]

Thank you for your input!

Other than the nagging question in my head that wonders how old you are and why you have only had your license for a month...

I'm 21. NYC kid. Cars are a nuissance and cost a fortune to park. So I've never owned one or had access to one. I could have gotten my license a long time ago, but that wouldn't change the fact that I have no driving experience. I still don't have a car, but a girl-friend who trusts me enough to let me use hers...

My opinion is to wait a year or two and get a little driving experience under your belt and then apply.

That makes sense, but I'd hate to wait that long. I wonder if there are any kind of "crash courses" (no pun intended) to speed up things? On a positive note, I do have a clean driving record...

[Roger Dat]

If your applying to NYPD you wouldnt be the first recruit hired with little driving experience.

[Turion]

If your applying to NYPD you wouldnt be the first recruit hired with little driving experience.

Really? I figured they'd have the most stringent requirements given the madness of NYC traffic. I freak out just riding in a cab with all the crazy tourists jumping out in front of it to take pictures. However, I'm thinking Manhattan, but other parts of the City really aren't as bad...

[cntryboy0531]

Really? I figured they'd have the most stringent requirements given the madness of NYC traffic. I freak out just riding in a cab with all the crazy tourists jumping out in front of it to take pictures. However, I'm thinking Manhattan, but other parts of the City really aren't as bad...

I don't live in NYC, but in those situations I just cover my eyes, punch the gas, and hope for the best.. :D

[Turion]

I don't live in NYC, but in those situations I just cover my eyes, punch the gas, and hope for the best.. :D

Don't forget to turn the wipers on!

[Ispbear]

If your in NYC, Roger Dat is probably right. My perspective is coming from a midwest country boy where most kids are driving the farm trucks in the field by age 11. I assume there will be several people in your area with the same situation.

Good Luck

[cruzmisl]

Many large cities take applicants with little driving experience simply because owning a car borders on a luxury (assuming public transportation is adequate). I would still apply. I know several people that had limited driving experience and were hired.

Having said that applying in a small rural town with no driving experience is not good.

[txinvestigator1]

There was a guy in my South Texas city's academy who was from New York. He was 35 and had never driven before moving to Texas when he was accepted to the academy.

[nikerret]

There was a guy in my South Texas city's academy who was from New York. He was 35 and had never driven before moving to Texas when he was accepted to the academy.

I would have loved to have been in his car during Pursuit training...

[txinvestigator1]

I would have loved to have been in his car during Pursuit training...

Lets just say he didn't win any contests. He got the nickname of "mad dog" because during what we called crime scenes (where we responded to calls that were manned by off duty guys playing the bad guys) he bit the crap out of an actor that got him in a head lock and went for his gun.

Hey, the guy let go of him.

[BP348]

There was a guy in my South Texas city's academy who was from New York. He was 35 and had never driven before moving to Texas when he was accepted to the academy.

We had a guy from my last duty station that was the same thing. He was also from NYC (are we seeing a pattern? :D) Anyway he had only had his licence for about a year when he was accecpted by USBP.

I think it's pretty common to find guys/gals from placed like Chicago & NYC with no driving experience. Both cities have a good public transportation system and finding a place to park your car is a real b!tch as well as expensive.

Throw your name in you won't be the first guy to apply with NYPD with little or no driving experience.

[Turion]

Sounds like I should just go ahead and apply.

I thought I'd have to skip the NYPD because of the City traffic, but from what you are saying, they may actually be the most accomodating as far as lack of driving experience is concerned.

And apparently, at least some more "rural" agencies like to hire people like me for entertainment purposes.

Having lived in Manhattan all my life (and loving every minute of it!), it would make the most sense for me to stay right here.

Thanks for the responses. I was positively surprised!