Driving under the influence (DUI) charges are relatively common. Many otherwise law-abiding citizens get arrested for having one beer too many before driving home from a party. There are also many people who end up wrongfully accused of drunk driving. Police officers could improperly conduct tests or might ignore medical explanations for why a driver may have failed breath or field sobriety testing.
Quite a few people accused of impaired driving enter guilty pleas. They assume that fighting the charges could be difficult and expensive. They may expect minimal consequences if they have no other criminal record. People sometimes fail to consider how a single conviction can alter the course of their careers.
What professional consequences can a DUI inspire?
Risk of job loss
Some companies have strict internal policies about criminal convictions. A single guilty plea could be enough to cost someone their job. If the person accused ever has to drive for work or if they need to maintain a commercial driver’s license (CDL), a DUI conviction might leave them unable to do their job.
They could lose their CDL. They may also lose their standard driver’s license, usually for at least six months. Even if their employer can work around their temporary license suspension, the company may not accept the additional costs of insurance when one of its employees who drives has a DUI on their record.
People can also potentially lose their jobs because they miss work while serving their sentence. Companies may fire workers who repeatedly show up late because they have to rely on public transportation.
Challenges when pursuing advancement
There are three main ways in which people advance their careers. The first is through a long-time commitment to a company and internal advancement opportunities. Businesses may be less likely to promote those who have missed numerous days of work or who have a criminal record.
The second is through external job opportunities. The biggest career advances often follow the decision to leave one company to pursue work at another business. Unfortunately, most employers perform background checks and may not offer jobs to professionals who have criminal records.
Finally, some people develop their careers by pursuing a degree or specialized certification. A criminal record can prevent people from enrolling at certain educational institutions. They may also have a harder time qualifying for financial aid, such as private scholarships.
The best way to keep a criminal charge from damaging a career is to avoid a criminal conviction. Choosing to fight DUI charges is almost always better for ambitious people than pleading guilty and dealing with the consequences of a criminal record. With the right strategy, motorists accused of impaired driving are often able to avoid a conviction that could forever limit their career progression.