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Bumping since I'm also interested in hearing everyone's opinions on this...
 
This will likely need to be reported on ERAS since it specifically asks if you have ever been convicted, though it doesn't hurt to ask a lawyer. Speeding happens and your offense happened several years ago. It shouldn't affect you. Just look through prior threads on here, many successful matches in spite of traffic violation(s).
 
It will come up on your background check but should you be worried? No, I don’t think so. As long as it wasn’t a wet and reckless or a DUI/DWI
 
mingomango said:
When I finally apply to residencies, it will have been six years since I got a reckless driving charge in Virginia where driving over a certain speed above the speed limit is considered a misdemeanor (reckless driving due to speed). Will I have to report this on ERAS? Will it impact my ability to match competitive specialties or competitive programs? It's the only thing on my record and I intend to keep it that way.

Any and all thoughts are appreciated 🙂.
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ERAS specifically asks about convictions, so only if you had a final judgement placed against you (that wasn't deferred/dropped/etc). So you will likely have to list it. With that said, I would probably just write "Misdemeanor speeding" honestly and whatever pops up on your background (if at all) then they can read into it.

EMhopeful2 said:
Might be wrong, but if it's on your record then it'll come up in a background search so if you don't report it they'll know you're lying. Did you contest it when you got it 6 years ago? I also got a reckless driving ticket during med school but I got a lawyer and he got it reclassified as parking too close to a curb so I just paid a small fine.
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Background checks are incredibly wonky and variable. I've had to do several (med school, aways using multiple different services, and now residency) and only 1 found a non-judgement non-traffic misdemeanor charge against me and they said it was not a big deal at all.
 
You will have to list this on your residency background check, so you might as well list it on ERAS.

I wouldn't worry about it at all.
 
Does anyone know how it appears on a background check? For instance, does it just say "misdemeanor" or will the background check actually give details (i.e. "misdemeanor speeding").

(Sorry to piggyback on your thread mingomango! I figure this will be important for you as well)
 
mingomango said:
Thank you everyone 🙂. Unfortunately @EMhopeful2 and @Moko I was a dumb kid at the time and didn't think to get it reduced down. @DO2015CA yeah it was not a wet and reckless, it was purely for speeding and nothing else. I would never drive drunk. Thankfully it hasn't happened since (and will likely never happen again) given that entire experience was incredibly unpleasant--a real wake up call. It's annoying I'll have to list this on ERAS when the time comes, but hopefully residencies will understand that the very regrettable decisions of dumb 21 year old me don't reflect the decisions 28 year old me will make moving forward.
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Meh I’m a speeder so I wouldn’t view it bad at all. I’d ask about it to make sure it wasn’t 110mph in a school zone but besides that whatever. I think some nanny states speeding laws are ridiculous. Like over 15 mph over can get you reckless driving. Ridiculous if you ask me. I don’t mind paying speeding tickets from time to time... you pay to play. But actual criminal charges is stupid.

Another route you can try is expungement. You’d have to talk to a lawyer on the legality of not reporting it then.
 
Yeah you have to report it if you were convicted and the charge was never sealed thereafter. And remember you'll need to report it on the licensing apps in most states as well. Shouldn't be an issue either place.

I've researched this topic ad nauseam because I unfortunately have a DWAI conviction from college which is obviously much worse. Most people say that if you got into med school with it (which I and you did), residency directors don't care as much as you think as long as it's not a continuing issue. For yours, it was literally speeding 6 years ago, no one is gonna care. For mine, I'll have to show a perfect record since then and even then I'm sure some programs will hold it against me, but you only need one
 
LebronManning said:
Yeah you have to report it if you were convicted and the charge was never sealed thereafter. And remember you'll need to report it on the licensing apps in most states as well. Shouldn't be an issue either place.

I've researched this topic ad nauseam because I unfortunately have a DWAI conviction from college which is obviously much worse. Most people say that if you got into med school with it (which I and you did), residency directors don't care as much as you think as long as it's not a continuing issue. For yours, it was literally speeding 6 years ago, no one is gonna care. For mine, I'll have to show a perfect record since then and even then I'm sure some programs will hold it against me, but you only need one
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Just for clarification, what does DWAI mean? I think it was mistyping for DWI?
 
DO2015CA said:
Just for clarification, what does DWAI mean? I think it was mistyping for DWI?
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No, actually in Colorado there's two levels of impaired driving.
DUI = Driving under the influence and is given for BAC above 0.08
DWAI = Driving While Ability Impaired given for BAC above 0.05 or for impairment from other things such as medications or lack of sleep
 
LebronManning said:
No, actually in Colorado there's two levels of impaired driving.
DUI = Driving under the influence and is given for BAC above 0.08
DWAI = Driving While Ability Impaired given for BAC above 0.05 or for impairment from other things such as medications or lack of sleep
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Great to learn! I never would’ve thought that was a thing. Very interesting
 
mingomango said:
When I finally apply to residencies, it will have been six years since I got a reckless driving charge in Virginia where driving over a certain speed above the speed limit is considered a misdemeanor (reckless driving due to speed). Will I have to report this on ERAS? Will it impact my ability to match competitive specialties or competitive programs? It's the only thing on my record and I intend to keep it that way.

Any and all thoughts are appreciated 🙂.
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what was the final disposition on the case? did you plead guilty to a misdemeanor or was the charge lessened because it was your first offense??
 
I got a ticket for something about as serious as jaywalking years ago. I answered "yes." I interviewed at a bunch of the lofty places you probably have in mind and matched at one. No one cared.
 
mingomango said:
Thanks everyone! Really reassuring, sorry for the neuroticism. Not a fan of how it sometimes feels like everything needs to be perfect.

@Moko LOL.
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This is not neuroticism.
You have every right to be concerned knowing the climate against doctors.
THis will not keep you back. just disclose it and move on. It is not like a crime of moral turpitude (DUI).
Almost all places will say WHATEVER.

how fast were you going?
Just have at your disposal all paperwork concerning it's disposition
MOreover see if virginia has expungement laws and pay someone to have this expunged after 18 months or 2 years
 
PieOHmy said:
It is not like a crime of moral turpitude (DUI).
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DUI isn't a crime of moral turpitude whatsoever but you're right in that OP's offense was very minor and much more minor than a DUI.

Crimes of moral turpitude are:
  • murder
  • voluntary manslaughter
  • involuntary manslaughter, in some cases
  • rape
  • spousal abuse
  • child abuse
  • incest
  • kidnaping
  • robbery
  • aggravated assault
  • mayhem
  • animal fighting
  • theft
  • fraud, and
  • conspiracy, attempt, or acting as an accessory to a crime if that crime involved moral turpitude.
 
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