So I decided a little over a year ago that I wanted to become a fire fighter... I started by taking my EMT basic class last fall, then took a couple of classes towards my fire cert the following semester. Over that time I passed the NREMT, and got licensed as an EMT in the county of San Diego. I recently started applying for jobs as an EMT.
On Friday of last week I was offered an interview that was taking place today, if I had all of my certs, an ambulance drivers license, a green medical examiners card, and a good enough driving record with proof of it on a H-6 driving history report from the DMV. I started scrambling to get my green card and ambulance drivers license on Monday. I went to the DMV this morning and passed the test for my ambulance drivers license, but they were not able to give me the temporary license because something came up on my DMV records that needed to be reviewed in Sacramento first.
So late last night before I went to bed I was reading up on the requirements to get an ambulance drivers license in CA on the DMV website. That is when I realized that I was screwed...
The issue is that I was pulled over with marijuana in my car in September of 2005 while I was speeding. I went to court in December of 2005 and was convicted with misdemeanor possession of marijuana as I chose not to fight it. I followed the judge's orders and had the charges expunged and dismissed. But CA says that you can not have any arrest for drugs for just about any reason in the last 7 years. Even if it was only marijuana. Specifically it says:
So now that I know I can't be an EMT for the next 2+ years (unless I somehow get lucky and Sacramento decides to let me off the hook)... I am wondering if I can still become a reserve volunteer fire fighter or not?? When I was speaking with a Captain of a local department he told me that one of the first things you do is get your Class B license so you can drive the apparatus.
Does anyone know if the CA class B drivers license has the same rules as the CA ambulance drivers license? I have looked on the DMV website, but then again I never noticed the problem with getting the ambulance drivers license until last night, and I had looked at it several times before. (No I don't smoke weed anymore, I wasn't stoned while I was looking at it if that is what you are thinking. lol)
I am wondering if I will have to put my fire fighting career on hold until the 7 years has passed... Or if I could still get a job somewhere as an EMT Tech in a hospital, or as a reserve volunteer fire fighter? I was even applying for fire fighter positions right now, not that I would get hired with no experience, but I figure why not try anyways...
Anyone got any insight on this?
I am so upset right now! I wish I wouldn't have been so stupid back then, or that I would have begged a judge to drop the charges...
On Friday of last week I was offered an interview that was taking place today, if I had all of my certs, an ambulance drivers license, a green medical examiners card, and a good enough driving record with proof of it on a H-6 driving history report from the DMV. I started scrambling to get my green card and ambulance drivers license on Monday. I went to the DMV this morning and passed the test for my ambulance drivers license, but they were not able to give me the temporary license because something came up on my DMV records that needed to be reviewed in Sacramento first.
So late last night before I went to bed I was reading up on the requirements to get an ambulance drivers license in CA on the DMV website. That is when I realized that I was screwed...
The issue is that I was pulled over with marijuana in my car in September of 2005 while I was speeding. I went to court in December of 2005 and was convicted with misdemeanor possession of marijuana as I chose not to fight it. I followed the judge's orders and had the charges expunged and dismissed. But CA says that you can not have any arrest for drugs for just about any reason in the last 7 years. Even if it was only marijuana. Specifically it says:
"Drugs: The driver has been convicted within the preceding seven years of any offense relative to the use, sale, possession, or transportation of narcotics or addictive or dangerous drugs, or of any misdemeanor involving force, violence, threat, or intimidation (Vehicle Code Section 13372[4])."
So now that I know I can't be an EMT for the next 2+ years (unless I somehow get lucky and Sacramento decides to let me off the hook)... I am wondering if I can still become a reserve volunteer fire fighter or not?? When I was speaking with a Captain of a local department he told me that one of the first things you do is get your Class B license so you can drive the apparatus.
Does anyone know if the CA class B drivers license has the same rules as the CA ambulance drivers license? I have looked on the DMV website, but then again I never noticed the problem with getting the ambulance drivers license until last night, and I had looked at it several times before. (No I don't smoke weed anymore, I wasn't stoned while I was looking at it if that is what you are thinking. lol)
I am wondering if I will have to put my fire fighting career on hold until the 7 years has passed... Or if I could still get a job somewhere as an EMT Tech in a hospital, or as a reserve volunteer fire fighter? I was even applying for fire fighter positions right now, not that I would get hired with no experience, but I figure why not try anyways...
Anyone got any insight on this?
I am so upset right now! I wish I wouldn't have been so stupid back then, or that I would have begged a judge to drop the charges...
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