Do Traffic Violations Show Up on Criminal Background Checks?
When you get pulled over and have to pay a ticket, it’s usually not a huge deal. You make your way down to traffic court to fight the ticket, or you send in your payment through the mail or online. While this may seem like the end of it, you may be curious about whether or not it will come back to bite you during a background check, especially if you drive commercial vehicles.
So, do traffic violations show up on criminal background checks? While we wish we could answer this question in a few sentences, the answer is a lot more complicated than you may think.
Fortunately, this guide covers everything you need to know.
Understanding Traffic Violations
Traffic violations are tickets or citations that you’re given when you commit an infraction or break the law while operating a motor vehicle. Whether you’re speeding, parked somewhere you shouldn’t be, or rolling through a stop sign, police officers and state troopers can write you a citation; this is the traffic violation.
When traffic violations are filed as violations or citations, they’re usually not going to show up in criminal records. However, if a violation is actually a misdemeanor or a felony, there’s a good chance that it will.
Therefore, it’s important to look over your citation to learn more. Although, if you’re taken out in handcuffs, it’s probably going to show up in your criminal records unless you’re found not guilty.
Are Traffic Violations Public Records?
How traffic violations are handled plays a role in whether or not they’ll show up on a criminal background check. This is due to the fact that most background checks will reveal anything that’s a public record. That said, traffic violations aren’t always public record in the same way that some criminal cases may be.
Sure, driving-related charges that end in a misdemeanor, like first offence DUI or DWI, are criminal records that are open to the public, but other types of traffic records are not. Most violations that are handled at the civil level are available to insurance companies, police, and other state organizations, but a valid reason is needed to view someone else’s driving record in most states.
While this is handled differently in many states, this tends to be the consensus.
Do Traffic Violations Show Up on Criminal Background Checks?
Whether or not a traffic violation shows up on a background check depends on several factors. Typically, violations that result in a trip to traffic court and a few points on your license won’t have an impact on your criminal record.
On the other hand, if you’re charged with a misdemeanor or felony crime while behind the wheel, there’s a good chance that it will show up during a criminal background check.
Examples of Traffic Violations that Show Up on Criminal Background Checks
There are several types of traffic infractions or crimes that will show up on a criminal background check. Ultimately, it depends on the circumstances, but some of the most notable examples are listed below.
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
- Trying to evade or flee from police officers in your vehicle.
- Being caught in possession of a stolen vehicle.
- Street racing or driving more than 30+ miles per hour (MPH) over the speed limit.
- Vehicular manslaughter or homicide.
These are only a few examples, and it may be possible for additional driving-related crimes to show up on a criminal background check.
How to Check Your Criminal Records Before a Background Check
If you’re worried about traffic violations showing up on a criminal background check, you should prepare yourself prior to applying.
You can do so by using a tool like UnMask to view your criminal records. Simply enter your information into the tool to view all available public records associated with yourself. Of course, this includes criminal records, but it also includes other records that can prepare you for other elements of a background check.
If you notice anything that’s wrong or shouldn’t be there, you can contact local courts or state your case to the interviewer.
Do Traffic Violations Show Up on Criminal Background Checks? The Verdict
So, do traffic violations show up on criminal background checks? Ultimately, no, a traffic violation won’t show up on a criminal background check. While this may be the case, driving infractions that turn into misdemeanors or felonies will show up during a criminal background check.
The good news is that you can always prepare for a background check by checking your criminal records with UnMask before you apply.
