Speeding tickets are an unfortunate occurrence, and if you’ve received one of these driving infractions, you may wonder how likely it is to turn up on your background check report. Our article aims to give you a rundown of the items you might find on your report along with essential information regarding speeding tickets, driving records, and how a speeding ticket can impact your report.
Information That Appears on Background Checks
Various information can appear on your background check, and it is important to stay informed about what might be included in your personal report. For example, information such as your employment and education history, criminal and civil records, personal identity and previous addresses, credit history, and driving records may all be included on a background check report.
Keep in mind that employers or individuals might not look at every aspect of your background check or request every type of report available. The type of job you are applying for determines which parts of your background report are most likely to be evaluated. Positions that work with vulnerable populations, require the operation of machinery or sensitive equipment, or those dealing with security are more likely to have intensive background check requirements.
Do Speeding Tickets End up on Criminal Records?
Depending on the type of speeding ticket you have received and your state’s laws surrounding driving infractions, a speeding ticket may end up on your criminal record. Typically, a simple speeding ticket you received for a minor speeding infraction and paid off in a timely fashion shouldn’t appear on your criminal record.
However, if the ticket is due to reckless driving and there are criminal charges for it, either by not paying fines or being required to serve a jail sentence, then it will most likely end up on your criminal report. The ticket will count as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the charges and your driving offense.
Will a Speeding Ticket Impact My Employment Chances?
A speeding ticket on your background check may impact your employment chances in certain situations. For example, if the job you are applying for requires driving or operating machinery, and the speeding ticket has resulted in a misdemeanor or felony, then this may impact your employment chances.
On the other hand, if you have a speeding ticket that did not result in criminal issues or you are applying for a relatively low-risk job, such as a desk job, your potential employer might not even check your driving record in the first place.
Simply put, whether or not a speeding ticket impacts your employment chances is highly situational dependent.
Do Pending Tickets Appear on Background Checks?
Pending tickets and any pending charges will not show up on your background check in the majority of states. This is because you generally have time to contest the ticket, and states have different disclosure rules. A speeding ticket you have received will likely only appear on your report after a criminal charge or another similar conviction is filed.
How Long Will Speeding Tickets Stay on a Background Check?
State laws determine how long certain items stay on your record, but you can generally expect a speeding ticket to be present on your driving record for between three and five years. However, if you have received a criminal conviction regarding a speeding ticket or other driving infraction, this will likely stay on your background check for up to seven years.
Check your state’s disclosure and public record reporting laws to better understand how long a speeding ticket might be visible in your report.
Understanding Your Driving Record
Though most speeding tickets are one-off incidents that are often simple accidents, sometimes they can cause problems when it comes to your background check report. So if you’ve received a speeding ticket, you should make sure to understand fully what this means for your personal records, such as criminal charges related to it and other infractions that others can see on your driving record.
Remember that speeding tickets are typically not the biggest red flag for potential employers. Still, if you are interested in opportunities that work with driving or operating certain types of machinery, they might interfere with your employment chances.
Run a quick search of your own background check and driving record using public records search tools on Information.com to ensure you understand what your personal history report shows, staying one step ahead whenever a background check report is requested.
