How a DUI conviction can affect a driver’s career

On Behalf of | Jan 18, 2025 | Drunk Driving Charges

Some people plead guilty immediately after getting charged with a driving under the influence (DUI) offense. They assume that avoiding trial is the best option available to them. People are often so focused on the possible criminal penalties of a DUI charge that they fail to consider the secondary consequences of pleading guilty to a criminal offense.

Defendants who plead guilty to DUI offenses can expect to face practical consequences including significant career setbacks. How can a DUI charge potentially influence an individual’s job and professional development?

Defendants may lose their licenses

One of the standard penalties imposed for a (DUI) conviction is a driver’s license suspension. For some people, the loss of driving privileges could render them incapable of performing their jobs.

This is especially true for those who need a commercial driver’s license (CDL). A DUI conviction is likely to make them ineligible for a CDL for at least a year. Losing driving privileges can also affect those who only drive occasionally for work.

A conviction can also influence licensing related to other professions. Professional licensing boards often have policies against criminal convictions and may impose penalties on those convicted while working in a particular profession with a state license.

Convictions lead to criminal records

After a driver pleads guilty to a DUI offense, they have a permanent criminal record. Every time their employer or a prospective employer performs a background check, the record of their impaired driving offense may influence the decision made.

Criminal records can help affect an individual’s eligibility for advancement opportunities or jobs with companies other than their current employers. Criminal convictions can also limit higher education opportunities. Schools may perform background checks before enrolling students, and many scholarship programs also look at the criminal history of individual applicants.

Fighting back against a criminal charge is generally a better option for those who want to develop their careers than pleading guilty. Defeating DUI charges can help people protect their reputations and they’re driving privileges, along with their careers. Drivers who have the right support after an arrest can potentially develop a defense strategy that can help them avoid a conviction.

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