As I've mentioned in another post I have enilsted into the Army as an 18x. I leave in March. Obviously, I need to be able to qualify for a Secret security clearance. I have several past and minor traffic citations which I'm told should not be a problem when applying for the clearance, so I'm not worried about those. However, to my dismay, I got a speeding citation today; 75 in a 55. I'm going to give my recruiter a copy on Saturday and then go to court for it, more than likely I can get the offense lowered or dropped.
My question is would this interfere with the clearance, or will this not be a problem? I'm just concerned with this because it's after the fact that I've already enlisted.

It should not, provided there is not a gross pattern of recklesness and general immaturity.
I got a speeding ticket between signing the contract and shipping. I told my recruiter, paid it off, and put it on my EPSQ (secret clearance form of the day). I got mine. On the other side, that was my 3rd ticket in life and I was 19. One or two more and I might have had issues.
On the good side, if you get pulled over somewhere away from military installations, you're much less likely to get a ticket if you have a military decal on your POV. Knock on wood, I get pulled over 3 to 4 times a year for speeding (78 in 70s, usually) and get verbal warnings and "Thanks for your service" comments.
Moral of the story: SPEED LIMITS ARE NOT SUGGESTIONS. Speeding tickets show your insubordination and carelessness. They show you're not willing to take responsibility while conducting dangerous operations (driving...) and won't follow the rules if you think nobody's watching. Fix it now, Troop.

Thanks for the response. I have three other offenses, and I'm 23. I have been incident free for some time now so this ticked me off.
What is weird about this incident is when I got pulled over I was following another Trooper and just going with the flow of traffic.

It happens. Just use situational awareness and make sure it doesn't again.

You may have caught a break, in a lot of states, exceeding the speed limit by 20+ (76 in a 55) would have been criminal.

"to my dismay"???? Dude, you should be ashamed and horrified! That's a tad bit more than exceeding the speed limit---that's downright stupidity, not to mention as Gumby said criminal.
There's no excuse for going that far over the posted speed.

You need to get yer shnit together when it comes to this sort of thing. If you were to have done this on post--your azz would have been handed to you on a silver platter.

quote:

Originally posted by bobbysangelwife:
"to my dismay"???? Dude, you should be ashamed and horrified! That's a tad bit more than exceeding the speed limit---that's downright stupidity, not to mention as Gumby said criminal.
There's no excuse for going that far over the posted speed.

You need to get yer shnit together when it comes to this sort of thing. If you were to have done this on post--your azz would have been handed to you on a silver platter.

I didn't ask this question to be taught a lesson between right and wrong nor to be talked down to. I'm old enough and responsible enough to make my own decisions and take full responsibility for them. I made a mistake, end of story.

Well, consider this: what are you going to do when your Command gets notified that you've received another ticket, tells you that you can't drive your vehicle any more, and you get called in at 1am for something? How are you going to get in---wake up your buddy? That gets old very quickly. Having to rely on someone to drive you everywhere and have extra duties laid on top of him....I've seen that happen recently here at Lewis.
I also saw recently some kid who got his license suspended in another state come into the Vehicle Registration on post, try to get a sticker for his vehicle---was denied due to license suspension. No driving his vehicle on or off post.

This kind of stuff can affect you is all I'm saying. You stated that you've had several past and minor traffic citations, then were caught going 20 miles over the speed limit....that's sorta habitual driving behavior--gotta get the lead out of your foot and all that junk....it can have consequences that you're not even aware of...you could get a Commander that lost a loved one due to someone speeding and he/she punishes everyone who's busted for that sort of thing. You never know.....

Yes Sergeant, I realize that. My record has been good for four years, up until now. My other citations were given to me when I was younger and had less regard. This time was just a big mistake, like I said I was following another patrol car and didn't realize he was speeding as well, I just assumed that someone who was suppose to be upholding the law wouldn't actually be breaking it, too.
As for speeding, I will make sure that this will be my last ticket.
Thanks for your concern.

[quote]
I was following...
...didn't realize ...

...I just assumed [/quote


Probably phrases you want to get out of your vocabulary,seeing as your goal is the 18X pipeline.

Goodluck

quote:

Originally posted by 50stars13stripes:
I was following another patrol car and didn't realize he was speeding as well, I just assumed that someone who was suppose to be upholding the law wouldn't actually be breaking it, too.

Maybe he was enroute to a call. Many times, it is quicker to speed up and not use the lights and siren because of the stupid stuff people do when they hear/see a patrol car.

It boils down to, he's a Cop, you're not.

lol there probably isn't a soul in this post who hasn't done 76 in a 55. I see it every day on the interstate when the SL goes from 70 to 55 and people keep on trucking.

Lets cut the holier than though BS please, it is ridiculous.

Woooow. All this outrage over someone driving 75. You pretty much have to be going that speed on metro Atlanta interstates or you'll get run off the road.

You f'd up. Seems like you're sucking it up. Continue to suck it up and drive on. Just don't make it a habit of getting tickets all willie nillie.

Wow, Mr Considering Joining, you sure put all of us in our place. You think maybe we, who have actually served or might be married to someone who is serving, have seen this or done this ourselves and have suffered the consequences? But, you know more than all of us combined. I'm sure, IF you ever do join the Service, you will be immediately promoted to General Officer, since you know so much more than everyone else.

And, tell us, what's your experience? You're talking trash about people with high school educations, have you EVER done anything EXCEPT attend school?

quote:

Originally posted by MattR08:
Yes, gumby (name sure fits) I have done more than attend school. I put my life on the line every day.

I turned down the OCS offer from the recruiter, but thank you for your support.

My father served in Vietnam. Therefore, I now have the qualifications to judge every action of every potential recruit.

If I ever come across a lad in DEP who had sex before marriage, cursed, did 56 in a 55, had a beer on Sunday or lied in the 1st grade, God help them.

My father served in Vietnam. Therefore, I now have the qualifications to judge every action of every potential recruit.



please tell me you're being sarcastic

Well, my Dad can beat up his Dad. Oh wait, my Dad is dead.

You know, you can look up the previous posts by someone. This guy claims in one post he's a Cop in Houston, then he says he's in Nursing School. Which is it?

BTW hero, I'm retired from the Army. How about you?

quote:

Originally posted by MattR08:

quote:

Originally posted by airdiablo6:
My father served in Vietnam. Therefore, I now have the qualifications to judge every action of every potential recruit.



please tell me you're being sarcastic

Of course I am. I am just using the same mentality of these military wives.

Son, you need a massive attitude check, especially if your "considering joining" the military. Your not going to get very far in this world if you keep all this crap up.

Hey Rookie, why don't you finish the Academy and then actually do something BEFORE talking trash to people. You're not even done with your FTO program yet. Your Training Officer is still holding your hand when you go to the head.

BTW, I have done something besides the Army. I was a Cop long before your were even born.

wow....some people's children..... Where did they ever get their manners from.....sheesh.

Ya know, I could spout off all kinds of factoids and info about who I am, where I come from, and what my daddy did too....but who seriously gives a crap---and how is that relevant to this thread??---It's not, so why bring it up? To make you look better, sound badder, and whatever other crap??

And for the record--I have NEVER gone more than 5 mph over the speed limit. Ever. I know, I'm a boring driver---but I've never had a ticket for that either.