Will getting a ticket for not paying an MTA train fare DQ me from getting a TS clearance?

John Kwon — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 17:25:08 -0400

Hi. I enlisted for 35L counterintelligence job that requires a TS clearance. I disclosed to my recruiter that I got a ticket for not paying a train fare 7 years ago but I paid it off right away. It’s on the record now. I don’t know if I shouldn’t have said it to the recruiter but I didn’t know any better. I did a interim secret clearance interview at MEPS told the interviewer over the phone about it and she’s said not to worry. But I got a call from another investigator going through about my SF86 clearance packet and told them about my MTA ticket situation. They said there was nothing written about that on the SF86. My recruiter didn’t really do a good job with my stuff but now the investigator knows about my mta ticket situation. I’ve haven’t done anything criminal since then. Should I be worried about being DQed for a TS clearance because of this?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2020 7:24 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 19:24:03 -0400

Depends on how much the ticket is but I doubt it. Did you pay it off? The thing that would get you is if you never paid it off and that would cause delinquent debt.

The fact you didn't put it on your SF86 and then told the interviewer that might be an issue but it depends on the interviewer.

If that's the only thing, you shouldn't have an issue. They look at a whole person standard - and if that's the only thing you have you should be fine. I've seen much, much worse come through on SF86s when I worked in S2 shops.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Oct 19 at 2020 8:14 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 20:14:06 -0400

If you are upfront and admitting it, shouldn't be a problem. If the SF86 your recruiter is wrong, and you are adding to it something that wasn't put in there at the time, then that is good on you. With these things, it is always better to be completely upfront about it. It was an MTA fare, not giving a laptop of TS secrets to a shady guy behind the liquor store...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2020 2:07 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 02:07:25 -0400

In my limited experience, the biggest issue is when you don't disclose something like this. As long as you're honest and pay your bills you should get a waiver for this

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2020 7:58 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 07:58:47 -0400

Was it just a ticket for an ordinance violation, or were you actually charged with a misdemeanor? I don't even know where you would admit to something so petty on an SF86. I have seen people with felonies get a TS, because time had lapsed since the event and they were honest with investigators. I would be truly shocked if a ticket DQ'ed you from a TS.

Response by SGT Javier Silva made Oct 20 at 2020 12:22 PM

SGT Javier Silva — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 12:22:34 -0400

As a former Security Manager, I say because you were up front about it, it shouldn't be a problem. Clearances take the whole person approach when they are investigated and adjudicated. Had you not reported and not been up front about it, and they found it, it would've been a cause for concern. How much what the ticket for (if you don't feel like answering, you don't have to)? Was it a civil or criminal ticket?