Crazy College Kids and their DUI's/DWI's

[NoJobTog]

So I have a friend that majored in broadcast production and recently graduated. While he was in school he got a DUI.
Now he is looking for a job and is afraid he won't be able to find one because of his DUI.......
Do all stations require a driving record check on their employees despite whether they drive a station vehicle or not? And if so do they hire based on these records. Granted the privilege allows him to drive 24-7 for work related purposes, do the insurance issues which arise factor into the situation?

[SeattleShooter]

My station does check my record as well as all the other photogs and truck drivers. But as to say if he would get a job? I just dont know. It depends on the station. If I am right, there was a topic about this some time ago. May want to search that out.

[patssle]

I know a guy in school who got a DUI and had his internship at a station revoked before it even started when they did the background check...

[cameradog]

Do all stations require a driving record check on their employees despite whether they drive a station vehicle or not?

Almost all stations check, but not for all positions. Is your friend looking for a job as a photog? Then he has a serious problem. Photogs almost always get checked. A first job as a reporter will likely also require a record check, since reporters in small markets often shoot their own material and have to drive station vehicles. A few don't, but most do.

In other jobs, maybe, maybe not. I didn't get a records check when I worked in a studio many years ago, and I know that APs, producers, editors and others who rarely leave the newsroom often don't either. However, some stations do check everyone, the reasoning being that they want to be able to promote from within. They figure that if you've already passed the check, they can promote, say, an AP to a photog position if necessary without having to do a whole new workup on that person.

Hell, I knew a guy who was working as a reporter and was driving his station's unmarked news vehicle when he went to a crack house to buy pot. While he was inside smoking, the truck was stolen. Then he lied to police about it, telling them he left it running outside a grocery store, and was arrested when they reviewed the store's security tapes. That resulted in a criminal record, and yet he still managed to get hired as a photog in a larger market at a higher salary than he had been making as a reporter.

So, tell your friend to try anyway and don't worry about something he can't change. He won't know until he tries. The worst that can happen is that he ends up having to take a job as a producer. Hell, then he'll end up in management in a few years himself.

[goodfoot]

I don't think he would have a chance at being a photog until the DUI is cleared from his record. It's not a matter of moral character, just $$$. The insurance is way too expensive and they will check. I don't think he would have a problem if he wanted to be an editor or production staff because they don't drive the company vehicles.

[NoJobTog]

Thank for all the replies. My friend wants to land a job in production.
In my own personal experience, I have had a driving background check for every broadcast job that I ever had. Production Assistant, Photog, and Producer.
When I was interviewing for my most recent job I was nervous that my driving record would eliminate me from being eligible becuase of my speeding tickets. (3 or so in the past 4 years). I told the ND, about my tickets and was told that they are more or less making sure that I haven't had a DUI. I know that all the Gray stations do driving background checks for all the positions, whether it's a desk job or not.

[cameradog]

I know that all the Gray stations do driving background checks for all the positions, whether it's a desk job or not.

Gray is not necessarily representative of the industry. During the two years I worked for a Gray station, they changed their insurance carrier three times trying to get a better deal. They buy the cheapest thing they can possibly get. In fact, their liability insurance was so restrictive that the policy forced the company to institute random drug screening of three employees per month from among the entire staff.

None of the other stations I have worked for have had insurance as restrictive as Gray. They are weird about insurance.

[yellowbeta]

I can confirm what's been said about Gray. I work for a Gray station now and have seen good canidates get turned down. Keep in mind this was for a position that included driving.

[cameradog]

Hell, at one point when I worked at a Gray station we had an AP who wanted to get out into the field with some crews and see whether she might want to pursue reporting as a career choice. We had done it in the past with not only APs, but production people and even interns; but they had to deny the AP's request that time because the new insurance only allowed reporters and photogs listed with the insurance company to ride in the vehicles. They didn't want even the possibility that someone who hadn't had her driving record checked could be driving the vehicles, so they banned them from the vehicles altogether under threat of refused claims and dropped policy.

I have never worked for a company that was more cheap about insurance than Gray, in or out of television.

[MKshooter]

Please...I was chief at Gray's only startup, which was a TRI-OPOLY...Yeah, we had random's, and yeah, we checked driving records, but let me tell you this...What Prather wants, we take care of...Trust me.

[SeattleShooter]

Just talked to one of my coworkers and he said that they would not hire anyone if they have a DUI. But once it is off the record, it’s off. But that takes a lot of time.

I have always heard that the choices you make when you are young and affect you when you get older and this is the unfortunate example. I bet there are some small stations that will let him shoot, and by the time he wants to move up, his DUI might be off the record.

[NoJobTog]

Thanks for all the feed back I really appreciate it. My pal just put in a ap at a MG stations, that I know has hired for non-photog positions with DUI's......

[The Next Generation...]

Depending on the state, a DUI will stay on a person's record "for life" unless there is a good reason for it to be expunged and even then it comes down to money and time. His best bet would be to try and go after a position at a station that does not require him to drive so he can prove himself. Also it mainly depends on the company's rules and if he has a restricted license or no license at all. Good luck to him with it! Most of the DUI laws and enforcement practices are so over the top now its crazy....no Due Process what so ever. Just an obersvation after watching someone close to me go through it.