How will Immediate roadside prohibition affect career as an airline pilot ?

[yhwan96]

Hello, I recently got a Immediate roadside prohibition in BC, Canada for refusing a breathalyzer at a check stop. I was planning on attending flight school this July, but now I have to reconsider due to this being on my driver's abstract for the next 5 years. I have researched online about people having drinking and driving record and still being able to become an airline pilot, But I still wanted to make sure because it does cost a lot of money and time. IRP is not a criminal record, and I recently did a criminal check and still am clear. I had no problem getting class 1 medical after the incident, so can anyone help me out with some information regarding my situation please ? I know I made THE stupidest choice in my life and am ready to face the consequence of giving up my dream of becoming a pilot. If anyone knows any information regarding this please help me out.

[pelmet]

Why did you refuse the breathalyzer?

[fixnfly]

Hello, I recently got a Immediate roadside prohibition in BC, Canada for refusing a breathalyzer at a check stop. I was planning on attending flight school this July, but now I have to reconsider due to this being on my driver's abstract for the next 5 years. I have researched online about people having drinking and driving record and still being able to become an airline pilot, But I still wanted to make sure because it does cost a lot of money and time. IRP is not a criminal record, and I recently did a criminal check and still am clear. I had no problem getting class 1 medical after the incident, so can anyone help me out with some information regarding my situation please ? I know I made THE stupidest choice in my life and am ready to face the consequence of giving up my dream of becoming a pilot. If anyone knows any information regarding this please help me out.

I think you should be ok. It wouldn't affect getting a class 1 medical but may affect getting at RAIC (Restricted area identification card). Transport Canada will want a full 10 year history of places you've lived as well as work history and a full criminal background check. As long as you don't have a criminal record, you should be in the clear.

[DanWEC]

This is worth what you paid for it, but I don't believe you have anything to worry about.

The only times I'm aware of you'll come across an inquiry into your driver's abstract would be for your RAIC, and clearance for a gov't agency or regulated subcontractor. (Medevac, fire, gov't charters, etc)

For the RAIC, I highly, highly doubt you'll be asked about it at all. It's nothing compared to the more major blips many people have and still hold a RAIC.
For a Provincial or Federal clearance, it's also unlikely it'll come back to you, but even if it does, a conversation including acceptance and explanation of your mistake and it'll all be in the rear view.

The only exceptions would be those entry level jobs that actually include driving freight, passengers, and whatever as part of your ground position. Company insurance might not cover you. You probably don't want those jobs anyways.

Good luck, and remember, with this career comes certain lifelong constraints and responsibilities to be cognizant of. Just comes with the territory.

[digits_]

This is worth what you paid for it, but I don't believe you have anything to worry about.

The only times I'm aware of you'll come across an inquiry into your driver's abstract would be for your RAIC, and clearance for a gov't agency or regulated subcontractor. (Medevac, fire, gov't charters, etc)

For the RAIC, I highly, highly doubt you'll be asked about it at all. It's nothing compared to the more major blips many people have and still hold a RAIC.
For a Provincial or Federal clearance, it's also unlikely it'll come back to you, but even if it does, a conversation including acceptance and explanation of your mistake and it'll all be in the rear view.

The only exceptions would be those entry level jobs that actually include driving freight, passengers, and whatever as part of your ground position. Company insurance might not cover you. You probably don't want those jobs anyways.

Good luck, and remember, with this career comes certain lifelong constraints and responsibilities to be cognizant of. Just comes with the territory.

Even non entry level jobs might ask for a driver abstract to use/rent crew cars etc. But that doesn't mean they require a 'clean' driver's abstract either.

I certainly wouldn't avoid an aviation career because of it though. It's unlikely it would be a problem. Worst case you might miss out on one specific job that you really really wanted.

[rigpiggy]

Refusal to blow is a criminal offence. However if all they did was a roadside prohib, count yourself lucky

[co-joe]

The RAIC isn't the only problem, if you don't take care of this properly you may have difficulty travelling to the US which is a major part of life at most airlines. If you've been charged with a criminal offence in Canada even if you weren't convicted, US customs can see that on your record. I'd talk to a lawyer familiar with cross border issues, but I'm not personally experienced with this.

[tsgarp]

If you are stupid enough to drink and drive to the point that you had to refuse a breathalyzer, then do us a favour and pick a different career; we don’t want you.

[digits_]

If you are stupid enough to drink and drive to the point that you had to refuse a breathalyzer, then do us a favour and pick a different career; we don’t want you.

I was unfamiliar with the 'refusing breathalizer' option. At what blood alcohol level would it be beneficial to refuse the test?

[tsgarp]

If you are stupid enough to drink and drive to the point that you had to refuse a breathalyzer, then do us a favour and pick a different career; we don’t want you.

I was unfamiliar with the 'refusing breathalizer' option. At what blood alcohol level would it be beneficial to refuse the test?

I don’t know, but if you’re drunk enough that you’re worried, you’ve really fucked up.

[digits_]

If you are stupid enough to drink and drive to the point that you had to refuse a breathalyzer, then do us a favour and pick a different career; we don’t want you.

I was unfamiliar with the 'refusing breathalizer' option. At what blood alcohol level would it be beneficial to refuse the test?

I don’t know, but if you’re drunk enough that you’re worried, you’ve really fucked up.

Then again, if you've got the mental capacity left to worry, you might not be *that* drunk

[rigpiggy]

Both canadian courts and US FAA consider refusal to blow as you are drunk. According to the CCC minimum 1000$ fine for first offense.

[laminar]

It's probably a great highlight that you have terrible decision making skills and one of the many other applicants in the pool should be chosen over you.

Too bad you weren't in Alberta....I'd be wondering if it was me who shredded your license. I love catching impaired drivers. I still haven't found a sober refusal lmao! (Just like you weren't!)

[Fly0nTheWall]

Alright folks, OP messed up and is big enough of a person to admit it and own up to it. That's more maturity than a lot of the posters throughout this forum in my opinion. And I doubt they'll be doing it again.

Instead of kicking them down in the mud, why don't we actually try helping them out with their question? OP, unfortunately I don't have any advice for you myself. But, like others mentioned, the areas that may give you trouble would be getting a RAIC (required for being airside on the ramp at the bigger airports in Canada), getting a TSA security check for sim training in the U.S., or cross-border travel. You mentioned it's not a criminal offense for you, so I imagine you'd be safe for a background/criminal record check from potential employers.

Unfortunately each of those items is handled by completely different organizations/jurisdictions, and they all have slightly different requirements. So, you'll have to seek out advice from individuals in those respective areas if you want an accurate answer.

That being said, there's plenty of work available in Canada to have a career in aviation without needing any of those above items. It would just likely be at a smaller/regional operator within Canada and might preclude you from flying for some of the bigger airlines. Plenty of jobs though like Aerial Spray, Scheduled/Charter operations, Medevac, Flight Training, etc. will allow you a career of flying without having to have a RAIC/cross the border/train in the U.S.

All the best in your pursuit. Flying is a beautiful thing, and I hope you can keep your dream alive

[Stable_Approach]

I have a former colleague (non aviation) who got drunk and crashed into the back of a cop car at the lights. 1 year license suspension but other than the DUI, which is all he got, he was able to freely travel to the U.S. What did screw him up was he wanted to work in the financial industry as a stock broker and was not bondable afterwards. Not sure how all that works but he was bummed out about it.

I've worked for companies with crew cars and rental cars, I've never been asked to provide a driver abstract. As some people mentioned, RAIC and sensitive government jobs may be out of the question for OP now but shouldnt be a career ender.

He should be good to go up north!

[futurebushpilot]

Call Pardons Canada and ask them how soon that can be expunged from your police record. You don't have a criminal record, but the RCMP will keep a record of that on file indefinitely until you have it expunged. That being the case, getting an RAIC before then would be a challenge, imo, though I'm certainly no expert on such matters.

[Inverted2]

My first flying job I had to work with these 2 other guys. When we went to work on day 1 in the company van they said you’re driving out to the airport. I thought that was kinda odd……. Then they said they both got DUIs and couldn’t drive but were still flying. They thought it was funny. I was kinda scared being the new kid.

[nicklee3272]

If you get criminally convicted for impaired driving, you will be given a driving prohibition which states you cannot operate any conveyance which includes an aircraft, golf cart, anything that is not muscular powered.

[Happyflyer78]

Why refused? Its a harmless test, just a hard blow for few seconds.

Hello, I recently got a Immediate roadside prohibition in BC, Canada for refusing a breathalyzer at a check stop. I was planning on attending flight school this July, but now I have to reconsider due to this being on my driver's abstract for the next 5 years. I have researched online about people having drinking and driving record and still being able to become an airline pilot, But I still wanted to make sure because it does cost a lot of money and time. IRP is not a criminal record, and I recently did a criminal check and still am clear. I had no problem getting class 1 medical after the incident, so can anyone help me out with some information regarding my situation please ? I know I made THE stupidest choice in my life and am ready to face the consequence of giving up my dream of becoming a pilot. If anyone knows any information regarding this please help me out.

[DanWEC]

Why refused? Its a harmless test, just a hard blow for few seconds.

Hey, not everyone has the lung capacity of a King air captain with 1000's of hours of pic time.

[pelmet]

Alright folks, OP messed up and is big enough of a person to admit it and own up to it. That's more maturity than a lot of the posters throughout this forum in my opinion. And I doubt they'll be doing it again.

All the best in your pursuit. Flying is a beautiful thing, and I hope you can keep your dream alive

How typical of why society is becoming the way it is these days(more and more criminalized)…..the criminal is big and the victims(all of us who were endangered and dare complain) are immature.

The OP should have a loss of career. That becomes an example to others(such as on this forum) of the consequences. That is called deterrence for something that has killed so many.

Standby for the excuses for the other possible extremely remote reasons for refusing a breathalyzer(lung issues, dizziness, racism). Mind you, as an immature poster, I asked the OP the reason for refusing in post #2 and still await the response from the one that is so “big”.

[Core]

What a tiny world you must live in, full of absolutes, assumptions, and anger. If I were him I wouldn't bother answering you guys either. He already got punished by the prohibition since that's what the police decided was appropriate. Guess they should have checked Avcanada instead of the code. I'm glad you aren't in a position to decide anything, everyone would be in jail and you wouldn't have anyone to be mad at. Kid's probably like 20, long life ahead. Chill out and move on.

[rookiepilot]

How typical of why society is becoming the way it is these days(more and more criminalized)…..the criminal is big and the victims(all of us who were endangered and dare complain) are immature.

Aviation related and speaking to the OP’s question how?