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But you will still have to explain your "yes" answer to the question on most major's applications.... "have you ever been charged with a crime?"

Whatever... quit scaring the poor guy... I looked at several applications for majors and NONE said "have you ever been charged with a crime." They all asked about being convicted.

Dude - first, anyone can be CHARGED with a crime - you have to go through a lot to be convicted. If a cop gives me a bogus ticket, I fight it and win, I was still CHARGED. Second, if that was the case, I am sure that almost every single person in the United States out there would have to answer yes. Why? Because even a traffic ticket is a crime. Look carefully next time you get one - if you sign the ticket and send in the fine, you're pleading Guilty to the crime of speeding - it's a misdemeanor.

Finally- to all those guys who have something in their past - generally in the interview it's more about how you accept responsibility for your actions and learned from it than the actual incident, although they will want to know the full details so they can understand what happened.

Prosecutor
 

One thing to consider is that sometimes it is better to consider talking to the prosecutor yourself, versus through a lawyer. The prosector might be more apt to drop the charges or change them if he/she had talked with you versus a lawyer who he may or may not like.

I agree. Get a lawyer, it shows the court that you take this seriously and make a good faith effort to settle the account. If this is a first offense and you demonstrate a willingness to make things right, the judge may just suspend sentencing and as long as you keep your nose clean for "x" number of months, the judge will then drop the case.

No ones perfect, we all make mistakes, it's what you do to make things right that matters.

Charged, or convicted? I haven't had an interview for quite some time, but if memory serves me correctly, they wanted to know if you had ever been convicted, not charged.

Having been a cop in Texas for sixteen years, I will say that at least in Texas, if you haven’t been arrested and stood in front of a judge while he reads the charges against you, you haven’t been charged with a crime. There is a difference between someone filing charges against you and you being charged with a crime.

Until you are arrested, you have no criminal history. The only way an airline would be able to find out about the criminal case is if you tell them or they happen to do an open records request at this Sheriff Dept, which I don’t think is likely.

Check with your attorney to make sure this is the same where you live. It has been my experience that this is standard in most states.

In most states, speeding and the like are summary offenses. They are less than misdemeanors and do not require a jury trial, just the judge's decision. In fact most non-moving alcohol offenses are summary offenses as well.

The airlines have two choices when it comes to finding people to perform various tasks related to operating an airline.

(1) Offer an incentive package that attracts and retains top talent to differentiate their product.

(2) Race to the bottom offering the minimum package that can find a warm body willing to show up for work.

You have nothing to worry about. The airlines have banded together (AIRCON) and selected (2). The slide will continue. As long as you are willing to work your whole adult life for nothing you will be able to remain employed in the industry.

Having no money and bouncing a check will soon be seen as a plus. They will recognize you are used to not having any money and move you to the front of the line. Congrats!

www.aircon.org

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That question is actually a violaton of your constitutional rights. DUE PROCESS In this country you are innocent until PROVEN guilty.