Suspended license..

[ebat305]

Hello ladies and gentlemen.

I am very interested in becoming a police officer. I have done some research but have come up empty handed so I hope you all can help.

A few months ago I got into an accident. Some guy cut me off and slammed on the brakes (still trying to figure that out myself). Bottom line, I hit his rear end. Meaning, automatically my fault.

The officer gives me the tickets and tells me to call the number on the citation to register it and go to the ticket/ traffic school in 20 days. I called on the 15th day. Nothing. 20th, 25th, 30th. Nothing. At this time I was going thru some personal/ financial hardship. So this ticket just fell of my mental radar. Sure enough, when I go to renew it my license which expired on May 2006, it was suspended. I paid the ticket and the reinstatement fee a few weeks later.

Now my question, do I still have a shot. I honestly do not expect and pity or liniency from the recruiter. After all, I said it is my "personal/ financial hardhip" so I don't expect them to care too much.

What do you guys think? In the end, I am gonna go ahead and submit my application. Becuase I lose nothing but a little bit of time doing that. I just wanna know where my "hope meter" should be, so to speak.

Any help is appriciated!

PS. I am applying for Miami Dade, Fl. if that makes a difference.

[Cinnamon]

Yes you still have a shot. Just be honest about everything. Good luck.

[TPDHellhound]

You need a valid license and a good driving history. So, as long as you're valid and don't have a pattern of bad driving, one accident shouldn't be an issue. But ultimately it's the recruiters that need to give you the information you seek.

I say keep applying though.

[ebat305]

Thanks for the quick replies (I am loving this place already =) )

Cinnamon- Thanks. I will do just that.

Hellhound- I don't have a bad driving history. This is the only offence on my record since I got my license at age 16. The thing that worries me is that it's a suspended license. Isn't that like an immidiate red flag, get out of my face, kinda things?

btw, my license is valid once again.

[TPDHellhound]

Thanks for the quick replies (I am loving this place already =) )

Cinnamon- Thanks. I will do just that.

Hellhound- I don't have a bad driving history. This is the only offence on my record since I got my license at age 16. The thing that worries me is that it's a suspended license. Isn't that like an immidiate red flag, get out of my face, kinda things?

btw, my license is valid once again.

No, it's not a DQ. They may question the timing of it, so just be honest. I had my license suspended as a teen for speeding. It was never an issue but I did disclose it to my background investigator.

You should be ok.

Good luck!

[Cinnamon]

Thanks for the quick replies (I am loving this place already =) )

This is a cool place, huh?

The thing that worries me is that it's a suspended license. Isn't that like an immidiate red flag, get out of my face, kinda things?

btw, my license is valid once again.

No, not really. They will look at your entire driving history. Don't worry about it. I use to get a lot of speeding tickets in the past, and it was never an issue

[ebat305]

Yay! Wait, not yay at you speeding tickets. I mean yay @ me still having a shot. =)

I'll walk into that office tomorrow with an extra bounce in my step now. I already have the application filled out (downloaded it online) Yeah, I'm anxious.

[Cinnamon]

Good luck... keep us posted

[ebat305]

I sure will.

[APDSarge]

Some departments will not let you apply until 3 yrs have lapsed since the suspended license.

Don't just let something fall off your "mental radar" they DO NOT GO AWAY.

Having a suspended license so recently could be a big problem for an otherwise qualified candidate.

[seamarshal]

Dude,
if it was recent, its gonna be kinda hard.
About 250 new hires a year, Over 2,500 applicants, Application deadline in Sept.
I am just being realistic man.
When I went to the orientation, applicants where already placed on the chopping block for having 3 or more speeding tickets within the last year.
Good luck, Its a verrrrrrrrrry long process.

[SPD1766]

Sorry posted in wrong place, removed my original post.

[Apollo8138]

Miami-Dade PD is very picky so you will have an uphill battle. They have thousands of applicants so they can afford to be that way. Having a suspended DL in your past is not an automatic DQ but you will be competing against candidates that have clean driving records.

[Roger Dat]

Everyone here is right. Honestly it depends highly on the individual department and standards. While this place is a great place to get information no one can give you the specific info you seek besides someone associated with the hiring at your department. Best of luck.