Top Secret Clearance Revoked?

[masterchiefll]

I'm in the Air Force and have only had my top secret clearance for a few months, and recently got a ticket for excessive speeding (no alcohol involved) and it was for $323, and I read the following on [url=http://www.clearancejobs.com/news.php?articleID=70:]Criminal Conduct and Security Clearances[/url]

"For SF86 purposes an arrest is any situation in which a law enforcement officer restricts a person’s freedom, then either takes them into custody or releases them on their promise to appear in court (i.e. issues a citation). Under this definition a traffic offense resulting in a citation is technically an arrest; however, minor traffic citations resulting in a fine of $300 or less can be omitted from the SF86, unless they involved drugs or alcohol."

Who would I report my offense to? Does this mean they'll have to reinvestigate me and most likely revoke my clearance?

Also, does this mean that if I received a speeding ticket (no court appearance and less than $300), I can keep it off my SF86?

[thedoctorisin]

Since you just got your clearance, doesn't that mean that you have already completed and submitted your SF86?

[masterchiefll]

Yea I did, but I wasn't sure if they're going to reopen my case and conduct another investigation because of this or if it's just not going to come up for another 5 years when I renew my clearance. Also, I told my commander that I received a traffic ticket, but that's about it. No official reports or anything...and I don't know if I'm supposed to take further actions because I have a top secret clearance...and I also don't know what actions 'they' are going to take because of my speeding violation.

[thedoctorisin]

Sorry for not responding sooner. This site has a weird way of failing to notify users of updates under certain timing conditions.

Anyway, if the speeding ticket is the worst strike against you, then it is not going to affect your clearance, either now or when you recertify. However, if it is just one more strike against you out of a whole string of issues, then it could be seen as a piece of a larger pattern. Generally speaking, it is always better to let the appropriate people know of any problems as they arise, rather than waiting until you recertify. If your renewal SF86 shows a lot of issues that happened since your prior SF86 that you didn't notify anyone about, this could be seen as a problem even if the individual issues aren't that important.

I don't have any familiarity with military clearances (as opposed to civilian clearances), so I'm puzzled as to why you weren't briefed on who to notify. For civilian clearances, we need to notify our FSO (Facility Security Officer), and we are made to sign a legal document to that effect. Advance notification to the FSO is also required for any travel outside the U.S. Were you told to inform anyone about any foreign travel when you received your clearance briefing? If so, then the same person should know about the speeding ticket, just to cover yourself when you renew.

[xylene]

Do not lie.

Even by omission.

Don't skirt the meaning of regulations.

If it comes up, deal with it.

You can't not answer and then be found out and say, "Oh but in section SF86..."

You would be sunk, lots worse than by telling the truth, the plain and open truth.