A traffic ticket in Missouri is a civil citation and is not criminal in nature. Still, they may still impact your employment in certain circumstances. This is why it is always wise to fight a traffic ticket, particularly in Missouri. Missouri has a point system for traffic violations and the points can quickly add up. This can affect your insurance premium and, your ability to drive, and, in some cases, your employment.
Missouri’s Point System
Pleading guilty to a speeding ticket in Missouri can add up to three points to your driving record. This charge remains on your driving record for five years. The higher your point balance becomes, the greater risk you face of losing your driving privileges. Under Missouri law, your license will be suspended for varying amounts of time if you accumulate:
8 points in 18 months
12 points in 12 months
18 points in 24 months
24 points in 36 months
For this reason, it is in your best interest to keep points off your driving record whenever possible by driving safely and following all laws and posted speed limits. If you do receive a traffic ticket, you can fight it.
Why a Traffic Ticket in Missouri Matters to Employers
Many job postings require applicants to have a clean driving record. This applies most to jobs that directly involve driving, for instance, truck, and bus drivers. In this case, the employee’s driving is within the scope of their employment, so the employer is potentially liable for any harm they cause while driving. Additionally, if the employer owns the vehicle, they have an interest in protecting the longevity of their assets by entrusting them to responsible drivers. Companies’ car insurance premiums are often very high already, and they potentially increase each time an employee has an accident. Companies do their best to keep insurance premiums low by hiring employees with clean driving records and firing employees that increase their liability. This applies for individuals who drive a company car for non-work-duties as well, as the company still pays the insurance.
It is important to note that jobs unrelated to transportation often still require some driving, such as running errands for your employer or picking a client up from the airport. In these cases, the duties are still within the scope of your employment, so it is necessary for the employer to know that you are responsible and will not be a liability.
How Employers Find Out
Even though traffic offenses do not show up on your criminal record, they will show up in a driving record check. Companies commonly run driving record checks if employee responsibilities include driving. These records will generally reflect the past seven years of your driving history. If you are applying for a job that involves driving, it is best to assume that your employer will run a driving record check, and disclose accordingly, such as if asked about prior traffic violations on the application or in the interview.
Non-minor driving offenses, such as reckless driving, can result in being charged with a misdemeanor. Misdemeanors will show up on criminal records and will appear in a standard background check.
What You Can Do
If you have received a speeding ticket in Missouri, contact Aimee the Attorney, your Kansas City Traffic Ticket Lawyer, for a free consultation. Aimee is an experienced Kansas City, Missouri Speeding Ticket Lawyer and can work with the prosecutor to get the best deal for you. In many cases, she will be able to work with the prosecutor to reduce your speeding violation to a non-moving violation, so no points or infractions are added to your driving record. This also means that your insurance rates will not be affected.
Aimee has over 19 years of experience in Kansas and Missouri courts and handles thousands of cases in the Kansas City, Missouri area every year. If anyone can wipe your record clean, it’s her! Contact her today.
