Oakland County Felony Defense Attorney Paul J. Tafelski Explains How a Michigan Felony Affects Airport Employment Eligibility

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI - A felony conviction in Michigan does not automatically close every airport job, but it can trigger federal background-check rules that limit access to secure positions for years. Oakland County felony defense attorney Paul J. Tafelski of Michigan Defense Law (https://www.michigandefenselaw.com/blog/can-you-work-at-the-airport-with-a-felony/) explains how the Transportation Security Administration evaluates criminal history and what options may be available to Michigan residents seeking airport employment.

According to Oakland County felony defense attorney Paul J. Tafelski, the Transportation Security Administration maintains a specific list of disqualifying offenses under federal regulations. For most secure airport jobs requiring a Security Identification Display Area badge, 49 CFR 1542.209 applies a ten-year lookback from the date of conviction. Disqualifying offenses include murder, espionage, kidnapping, armed or felony unarmed robbery, distribution of controlled substances, felony arson, extortion, and any felony involving theft, fraud, or willful destruction of property.

Oakland County felony defense attorney Paul J. Tafelski notes that specialized transportation roles involving hazardous materials or cargo apply a different framework under 49 CFR 1572.103. Certain convictions, including national security offenses, murder, improper transportation of hazardous materials, and crimes involving explosives, trigger a lifetime disqualification for Transportation Worker Identification Credentials and Hazardous Materials Endorsements. Other felonies, including weapons offenses, narcotics distribution, and fraud, trigger an interim disqualification of seven years from conviction or five years from release.

Attorney Tafelski highlights that a single Operating While Intoxicated conviction, known in Michigan as OWI, is not on the TSA's disqualifying list and generally does not bar applicants from secure airport employment. However, airlines, rental car companies, and ground transportation operators often run their own driving-record checks, and a recent or repeat OWI can affect positions that involve driving on airport property. A third OWI offense in Michigan is a felony under MCL 257.625 and may receive closer scrutiny during discretionary review.

Michigan Defense Law explains that many non-TSA airport jobs operate under separate hiring standards. Customer service positions at ticket counters, food and beverage roles, retail positions in terminal shops, and janitorial work are managed by private employers whose background-check policies vary. Positions outside secure zones, such as parking attendants, shuttle drivers, and staff at airport hotels, often require only a standard employer background check that considers the age and relevance of any conviction.

"The airport job market is more layered than most applicants realize," Tafelski notes. "A conviction that would disqualify someone from a SIDA badge may have little effect on a position in a public-facing area of the terminal." Michigan Defense Law represents clients in Oakland County at every stage of a felony case, from arraignment through trial, with a focus on outcomes that preserve future employment options.

The firm points out that Michigan's Clean Slate Act under MCL 780.621 allows eligible individuals to petition to have up to three felony convictions set aside, and MCL 780.621g provides automatic expungement for up to two felony convictions ten years after sentencing or release, whichever is later. Waiting periods vary by offense, ranging from three years for non-serious misdemeanors up to seven years for multiple felony convictions. Not every offense is eligible; offenses punishable by life imprisonment, certain offenses involving minors, and human trafficking convictions cannot be set aside.

Tafelski adds that an expunged conviction is removed from the public record and allows an applicant to truthfully state on most job applications that the conviction no longer exists. Federal agencies such as the TSA may still access conviction records through their own databases, but a conviction that has been legally expunged or pardoned is not considered disqualifying, and an applicant who is denied may prove the set-aside on appeal. "Expungement is not a guarantee of clearance, but it is often the single most effective step toward restoring eligibility," Tafelski observes.

The firm notes that a TSA denial must be appealed within sixty days, and that active warrants or pending charges for any felony on the disqualifying lists can trigger denial even without a conviction. Airport applications governed by the Federal Aviation Administration require truthful disclosure of criminal history; failing to disclose a conviction can result in rejection or termination independent of the underlying offense.

For Oakland County residents who are facing felony charges or who are pursuing airport employment with a conviction on the record, consulting a Michigan criminal defense attorney early may help identify options such as charge reductions, deferred treatment, or expungement that can keep employment doors open.

About Paul J. Tafelski, Michigan Defense Law:

Paul J. Tafelski, Michigan Defense Law is a Bloomfield Hills-based criminal defense firm representing clients throughout Oakland County and Michigan on felony and misdemeanor matters. Led by attorney Paul J. Tafelski, the firm handles cases at the 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac, district courts across the county, and federal court when applicable. For consultations, call (248) 451-2200.

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Email: paul@michigandefenselaw.com

Website: https://www.michigandefenselaw.com/

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