Under 21 DUI

[USAF121]

When I was 18 I made the mistake of driving under the infulence of alcohol, with a BAC of .05, it's been six years and I've served in the Armed Forces I am just wondering if it is an automatic disqualifer.

[K-Lo]

USAF121,

First off thanks for your service to our country.

As for the DUI, it shouldn't be an automatic DQ given the time that has passed. The only way it would be is if you tried to hide it or lie about it. Honesty is the key throughout the process. The DUI will come up during the process since you will have to disclose the information on the Arrest & Citation Questionnaire. The QAP panel will probably ask you about it since they will have a copy of the questionnaire. If it comes up during the QAP, just admit it was a mistake and highlight what you have done in your life since. The panel knows people make mistakes. They are looking at what you have done with your life since the mistake. It sounds like you have been doing well since that time.

I never had a DUI but I had a few issues in my past about 9 years ago. I talked to a BI at an orientation and asked him if those things would DQ me. He just told me to be honest about them if the issues come up (which they did in my QAP) and he would have to overlook them since the issues happened so long ago. He said that the CHP is a pretty forgiving agency so long as applicants are honest. He told us at the orientation that 75% of applicants are DQ'ed in backgrounds for lying about something that wouldn't have DQ'ed them to begin with had they been up front.

Let us know if you end up applying.

[Tom]

I agree with K-Lo. I personally know a couple of guys on the job with priors.

Go for it!

Tom

[CaliforniaHighwayPatrol]

I think if you explained yourself, and showed that you learned from your mistakes, they could over look it.

[Ramo]

Hello everyone. Since we were on the topic, I have a question of my own if someone could help me with. When I was 17 at the time and in highschool (I am only 20 now), I recieved a citation (misdemeanor) and was wrongfully accused of a pretty serious crime (for now, I rather not disclose all the info.). I went through the court system, and reached upon an agreement of Informal Probation (I was really stressed and did not want to go through the entire court process) which was then dismissed.

My question is should I be concerned with this? I know not providing all the information could help you gentlemen better answer my question, but if there are any BI's in this forum, I would greatly appreciate a responce and I would like to further discuss this issue with you.

Thank you in advance

-Ramo

[Ramo]

I apologize, I meant the word "response"

[K-Lo]

Hello everyone. Since we were on the topic, I have a question of my own if someone could help me with. When I was 17 at the time and in highschool (I am only 20 now), I recieved a citation (misdemeanor) and was wrongfully accused of a pretty serious crime (for now, I rather not disclose all the info.). I went through the court system, and reached upon an agreement of Informal Probation (I was really stressed and did not want to go through the entire court process) which was then dismissed.

My question is should I be concerned with this? I know not providing all the information could help you gentlemen better answer my question, but if there are any BI's in this forum, I would greatly appreciate a responce and I would like to further discuss this issue with you.

Thank you in advance

-Ramo

Hey Ramo. I would say the same thing to you as I did to USAF. The CHP knows that people make mistakes. They are looking to see if you have learned from the mistakes and that you are a better person now. Rest assured that the issue you mentioned will come up in detail. Be 100% honest from the start. The employment info that the Department publishes says that felons are not able to apply. Otherwise, there are no other automatic DQ criteria available to us as applicants. I would imagine that there are certain types of misdemeanors that qualify for DQ.

I would recommend going to an orientation in your area. Both of the ones I went to had BI officers speaking about the background process. If there is a BI there, pull him/her aside and ask them privately about your situation. The BI will give you the best insight on what to expect when you give them all of the detail.

Good luck should you choose to apply.

[Ramo]

Thank you for the info. I have applied and make no mistake that this speed bump might discourage me in any way. I will try and keep trying to become a CHP Officer. Can't or Impossible is not my mind. Thanks again!:biggrin:

[CHPwannaBE]

As a aside note all officers should know this; DUI checkpoints are ok as along as there is a turnaround for people to leave