Arrested for Speeding (more than 26 miles of posted limit) - Misdemeanor B, Crim/Infract -- Should it be issue in security clearance?

I have two Federal job offers as a consultant/contractor through IT Consultancy companies.
1> For one offer, I was asked to fill SF85P, and
2> And for the second one, I was asked to fill OF 306.

Now situation is, I am on H1B (living here for more than 5 years), and around 2 and half years back in 2018, I got arrested for speeding. It was more than 90/on 60. It was absolutely unintentional, since I was very inexperienced driver, and I was driving a brand new premium model rented car (which I was never used to drive).
Later on I paid $1000 fine for speeding (Misdemeanor b, Crim/Infract), and prosecutor dropped the ā€˜Failed to Yieldā€™ charge.

Do you think, can it create issue with my security clearance?

An answer will really be appreciated. I am but stressed; donā€™t want a bad day to impact my career.

One traffic misdemeanor is a minor issue if reported on your SCA./SF86. It is not an instant disqualifier by itself.

1 Like

Thanks a lot for your reply. Really appreciate it.

I am a law abiding person, and have no other mark to mention in my entire life.

That was just a bad day. Also I still donā€™t understand that, apart from ā€œSpeedingā€ and ā€œfailed to yieldā€ - why the police officer charged me also for ā€˜resisting arrestā€™ (may be because I asked couple of times to let me go as I had to drop my parents to catch international flight) and ā€œchild endangermentā€ (may be because my son was there in the car, and I was driving fast - I think its completely incorrect). My finger print taken, and I paid the bond amount to get out of the jail.

But Public Prosecutor didnā€™t even file those two charges, only filed for ā€œSpeedingā€ and ā€œFailed to Yieldā€.
And later on at court, the ā€˜Failed to Yieldā€™ charge also dropped.

Since prosecutor didnā€™t even file ā€˜resisting arrestā€™ and ā€˜child endangermentā€™ - so I didnā€™t mention about those in SF85P, and OF 306. I have mentioned only recorded charges ā€“ ā€œSpeedingā€ and " Failed to yield" (that too dropped). Hope that is okay (to mention only the filed/recorded one)?

Just be honest about it and list it on the form. If for some reason your clearance gets denied, appeal it. I have done lots of investigations regarding the same thing and those people got their clearances. This clearance process also makes a big deal about a parking ticket from 5 years ago, so donā€™t worry.

1 Like