Do Employment Background Checks Show Traffic Violations?

Background screening is a fact of life with any job search. As a job seeker, you probably wonder about what employers are looking for when they perform background checks and what they might find. Most people have little to worry about, lacking criminal records. What about minor transgressions, such as traffic violations? Do employment background checks show them? And if so, what exactly do employers do with that information? Here are a few insights.

What Shows Up on an Employment Background Check?

Let’s clear one thing up—there’s no such thing as a single comprehensive background check. In truth, there are several kinds. Employment background checks typically focus on several key areas:

• Criminal records to check for history of criminal behavior, convictions, arrests, and pending cases
• Employment verification to confirm past job titles, responsibilities, and length of employment
• Education verification to validate degrees, credentials, and certifications
• Credit history for some roles, especially financial positions
• Driving records for jobs that involve driving or operating other vehicles

Traffic Violations and Background Checks

Getting down to it, a traffic violation might show up on a background check, but it depends on the nature of the screening and the position you apply for.

Minor Traffic Violations

For many positions, speeding tickets or parking infractions likely won’t appear on a background check. These issues are handled by local traffic courts and do not usually get recorded in criminal databases. However, an excessive number of violations and loss of license as a result might pop up and give an employer pause, especially for positions involving vehicle operation.

Major Traffic Violations

More serious driving offenses, such as DUIs, reckless driving, or driving without a license, will almost certainly show up during background checks and be frowned upon by employers. They are considered criminal offenses and will appear in criminal background checks.

Jobs Involving Driving

If the job you’re applying for involves driving or operating heavy machinery, the employer will absolutely conduct a thorough driving record check. In this case, both minor and major traffic violations will be relevant and likely reviewed. This may carry over to non-car or truck driving positions, such as operating trains, planes, or other large-scale means of transportation. DUIs and recklessness don’t speak well to an applicant’s trustworthiness as an operator.

Why Employers Care About Traffic Violations

Employers putting out job offers for drivers must ensure candidates have a clean driving record to minimize risk and liability. A history of traffic violations could indicate a pattern of reckless behavior, making the candidate a potential risk. Such risks increase insurance rates and create the possibility of future accidents and loss of life due to irresponsible driving.

How To Handle Traffic Violations in Job Applications

While minor traffic violations typically won’t affect your job prospects, honesty is always the best policy. If asked about your driving record, be upfront and provide context before your potential employer conducts the background check. Transparency can build trust with potential employers. Many transportation employers consider a history of insobriety and recklessness to be a red flag. Still, circumstances differ, so be honest.

Employment background checks sometimes show traffic violations, though it mostly depends on the position. For more detailed information on relevant background checks or conducting them, contact us. We’re a long-time employment background investigation company with years of expertise.