Can You Work at the Airport With a Felony?

A felony conviction does not automatically disqualify you from every airport job in Michigan. The answer depends on the type of felony, how long ago it occurred, and which position you are applying for. Some felonies permanently bar you from working for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), while others only result in a temporary disqualification period. Many non-TSA positions at airports, including retail, food service, and airline customer service roles, have separate hiring standards that may be more flexible.

At Michigan Defense Law, Oakland County felony defense attorney Paul J. Tafelski helps people facing felony charges understand how a conviction can affect their future employment. A criminal record can close doors to airport jobs and other career opportunities across the region. If you are facing charges, the outcome of your case may determine whether you can pass a federal background check. Michigan Defense Law represents clients at every stage of the criminal process, from arraignment through trial.

This guide explains which felonies permanently disqualify you from TSA employment, which offenses lead to temporary disqualification, what non-TSA airport jobs may still be available, and how Michigan’s Clean Slate law may help restore your eligibility. Call Michigan Defense Law at (248) 451-2200 to speak with a criminal defense attorney in Oakland County about your case.

Does a Felony Automatically Disqualify You From Airport Jobs?

No, a felony does not automatically disqualify you from all airport employment. The TSA maintains a specific list of disqualifying offenses under federal regulations. For most secure airport jobs requiring a Security Identification Display Area (SIDA) badge, the TSA looks back 10 years under 49 CFR § 1542.209. If you were convicted of a disqualifying offense within the past 10 years, you will be denied clearance. 

For specialized transportation roles involving hazardous materials or cargo (which require TWIC or HME credentials), the TSA uses a different standard that includes lifetime bans for certain crimes and a waiting period of seven years from conviction or five years from release for others. If your felony is not on the TSA’s list, you bypass this mandatory federal ban, though employers will still evaluate your overall criminal history. 

Non-TSA airport employers, such as airlines, restaurants, and retail shops, conduct their own background checks with different standards. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires airport job applications to include a question about criminal history, but this does not mean every felony results in automatic rejection. Employers weigh factors like the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and whether the conviction is relevant to the position.

Oakland County felony cases typically start in one of the nine district courts before being bound over to the 6th Circuit Court at 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac. The final resolution of your case at these locations is the primary factor in the outcome of future airport background checks.

TSA Background Checks: 10-Year Rules vs. Lifetime Bans

When evaluating your criminal record, the TSA applies different rules depending on the type of security clearance your job requires. The most important distinction is between a standard airport worker (who needs a SIDA badge) and a specialized transport worker (who needs TWIC or Hazmat credentials).

Standard Airport Jobs (SIDA Badge): The 10-Year Rule

For the vast majority of secure airport jobs requiring a Security Identification Display Area (SIDA) badge, there are no permanent lifetime bans.

Under federal regulation 49 CFR § 1542.209, the TSA applies a strict 10-year lookback period for all disqualifying offenses. If you were convicted of, or found not guilty by reason of insanity for, any of the following crimes within 10 years of your application date, you will be denied a SIDA badge:

• Murder or assault with intent to murder
• Espionage, sedition, treason, or kidnapping
• Rape or aggravated sexual abuse
• Unlawful possession, use, sale, or manufacture of an explosive or weapon
• Armed or felony unarmed robbery
• Distribution of, or intent to distribute, a controlled substance
• Felony arson, extortion, or bribery
• Any felony involving theft, burglary, fraud, or willful destruction of property

Once 10 years have passed since the date of conviction for any of these offenses, they no longer act as an automatic federal disqualifier for a SIDA badge.

Specialized Transport Roles (TWIC/Hazmat): Lifetime Bans & Interim Rules

If your airport job involves specialized cargo, requiring a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) or a Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME), a stricter set of rules applies under 49 CFR § 1572.103.

1. Permanent Disqualifying Offenses (Lifetime Ban): You are permanently barred from holding TWIC/Hazmat credentials if you are ever convicted of:

• Espionage, sedition, treason, or terrorism
• Murder
• Improper transportation of hazardous materials
• Crimes involving explosives or explosive devices
• Violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) involving one of the permanently disqualifying crimes

2. Interim Disqualifying Offenses (7-Year / 5-Year Rule): For other specific felonies, you are disqualified if you were convicted within the past seven years, or released from incarceration for the crime within the past five years. These include:

• Firearms/weapons violations
• Extortion, smuggling, or bribery
• Distribution or importation of controlled substances
• Arson, kidnapping, or robbery
• Fraud or misrepresentation (including identity fraud and money laundering)

Offense Category	Standard Airport Jobs (SIDA Badge)	Specialized Roles (TWIC / Hazmat)
Lookback Period	10 years from the date of conviction	Lifetime ban for some; 7 years from conviction / 5 years from release for others
Terrorism / Espionage	Disqualified for 10 years	Lifetime Ban
Explosives / Murder	Disqualified for 10 years	Lifetime Ban
Weapons Offenses	Disqualified for 10 years	7-year / 5-year Disqualification
Drug Distribution	Disqualified for 10 years	7-year / 5-year Disqualification
Fraud / Extortion / Theft	Disqualified for 10 years	7-year / 5-year Disqualification

While these are the hard statutory rules, the TSA retains discretionary authority. They may still deny employment if an applicant has extensive criminal convictions, a record of transportation security regulatory violations, or active outstanding warrants.

Criminal Defense Attorney in Oakland County – Michigan Defense Law

Can You Work at the Airport With a DUI?

A Driving Under the Influence (DUI) conviction, known in Michigan as Operating While Intoxicated (OWI), does not automatically disqualify you from airport employment. DUI offenses are not included on the TSA’s list of permanently or temporarily disqualifying crimes. This means a single DUI conviction generally will not prevent you from obtaining TSA security clearance.

However, a DUI may still affect your chances depending on the employer and position. Airlines, rental car companies, and ground transportation services operating at airports often review driving records as part of their hiring process. A DUI conviction on your record may make it more difficult to secure positions that involve driving on airport property or operating vehicles.

Multiple DUI convictions raise additional concerns. A third OWI offense is a felony under Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) § 257.625, which carries up to five years in prison. A felony OWI conviction could make the TSA’s broader discretionary review more likely, especially if the conviction is recent. Employers at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, the closest major airport to Oakland County residents, may view repeat DUI offenses as a reliability concern.

Key Takeaway: A single DUI or OWI conviction typically does not disqualify you from TSA or other airport employment. However, a felony third-offense OWI could raise concerns during background reviews, particularly for positions requiring a clean driving record.

What Non-TSA Airport Jobs Can You Get With a Felony?

Airports employ thousands of workers in positions that do not require TSA security clearance. These jobs are managed by private companies, airlines, and concession operators, each with its own hiring policies. While most airport employers conduct background checks, their standards are often less restrictive than the TSA’s federal requirements.

Positions that may be available to individuals with a felony record include customer service roles at airline ticket counters, food and beverage positions at airport restaurants, retail jobs at terminal shops, and janitorial or custodial services. Baggage handling positions and ramp operations roles also hire through private companies, though these positions may require a Security Identification Display Area (SIDA) badge, which involves a separate background check.

SIDA Badge Background Checks

Can Michigan’s Clean Slate Law Help You Get an Airport Job?

Michigan’s Clean Slate Act, enacted in 2020, expanded eligibility for expungement and introduced automatic expungement for certain offenses. Under MCL § 780.621, individuals may petition to have up to three felony convictions set aside if they meet the statutory requirements. Automatic expungement under MCL § 780.621g can clear up to two felony convictions 10 years after sentencing or release from custody, whichever comes later.

An expunged conviction is removed from your public criminal record. This means you can legally state on job applications that you have not been convicted of that offense. For airport employment, this is significant because standard employer background checks typically will not reveal an expunged conviction.

The TSA and other federal agencies may still have access to conviction records even after a state expungement. Federal background checks can be more comprehensive than state checks, and an expunged record may still appear in federal databases. A conviction is not considered disqualifying if it has been legally expunged or pardoned. If a denied applicant proves their record was expunged under Michigan’s Clean Slate Act, the TSA may grant the clearance on appeal.

Who Qualifies for Expungement in Michigan?

Not all felonies are eligible for expungement. Offenses punishable by life imprisonment, certain sex crimes, crimes involving minors, and human trafficking convictions cannot be set aside. The waiting period varies depending on the type of offense:

• 3 years for non-serious misdemeanors
• 3 years for a first-offense OWI, and 5 years for serious misdemeanors or a single felony
• 7 years for multiple felony convictions

The Oakland County Clean Slate Program, administered through the county’s Michigan Works! offices, provides free expungement assistance to eligible residents. This program helps individuals complete the application process and determine whether their convictions qualify for a set-aside.

Key Takeaway: Michigan’s Clean Slate Act allows eligible individuals to have certain felony convictions removed from their public record, which can improve their chances of passing background checks for non-TSA airport jobs. Federal agencies like the TSA may still access expunged records through their own databases.

What Happens If You Fail a TSA Background Check?

If the TSA denies your application based on a background check, you will receive a written explanation identifying the reason for the denial. You have the right to appeal the decision within 60 days. The appeals process allows you to submit supporting documents, such as evidence of rehabilitation, court records showing a conviction was overturned, or proof that the conviction was expunged.

The TSA also considers active warrants and pending charges. If you are wanted or under indictment for any felony on the TSA’s disqualifying offense lists, you will be denied clearance until the matter is resolved in your favor. This means even an unresolved charge, not just a conviction, can prevent you from getting an airport job.

An important point for anyone applying is the duty to disclose. Airport job applications governed by the FAA require you to answer truthfully about your criminal history. Failing to disclose a conviction when asked can result in disqualification or termination, even if the underlying offense would not have been disqualifying on its own.

Key Takeaway: If the TSA denies your application, you have 60 days to appeal with supporting documentation. Active warrants and pending charges can also trigger disqualification, even without a conviction. Always disclose your criminal history truthfully on airport job applications.

Speak With an Oakland County Criminal Defense Attorney Today

A felony conviction can affect far more than a potential jail sentence. It can limit your ability to work at airports, pass background checks, and pursue career opportunities that require security clearance. If you are facing criminal charges, the decisions you make now may determine your options for years to come.

Call Michigan Defense Law at (248) 451-2200 for a free consultation. Our office is located at 2525 S Telegraph Road, Suite 100, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48302 and serves clients throughout Oakland County and Michigan. The sooner you have an attorney working on your case, the better your chances of protecting your record and your future.