There are plenty of news stories in the world that talk about the devastating consequences of driving under the influence. Fatalities, life-limiting conditions and the guilt that wracks the person in the driving seat are all just side effects of illegal driving. Those who do get behind the wheel of a car while under the influence of alcohol or drugs already know that they are doing something wrong, but many don’t think about the consequences of their actions and how their actions affect their future.
A charge for DUI means you need the help of a criminal defense lawyer, so before you’ve even been convicted of that felony, you need people to help you with a case that you now have to deal with. They will be the person who can tell you the possible outcomes of a DUI, but there is so much more to it than possible jail time or a fine. A DUI can destroy your career and your chance of making it big in the corporate world. Here are 5 ways a DUI could be the kiss of death for your future career.
A suspended driving licence can not only prevent you from getting to work, but if you drive for a living you are out of luck. Some states allow you an exemption if you need to drive to work, but it’s unlikely!
- Some employers have a procedure called a Mandatory Firing Policy. This means that regardless of what is going on, they are going to fire you because you have been convicted of a felony; whether you expect it or not. You will have to notify your employer upon your arrest, where you risk being fired immediately.
- If your job requires you to have a professional license, such as a nurse, lawyer or doctor, you could lose that license. This in turn could cause you to lose your job.
- Absenteeism is often something that employers don’t tolerate all that much. If you are spending a lot of time off work to deal with your court case and any appointments with your lawyer, you could be let go at work due to lack of attendance. Not only could you be hit with being fired, you’d have the embarrassment of disclosing why you need time off.
- Applying to college is a big deal and it’s not cheap. If you’ve been convicted of a felony, you may have to disclose this to college, which could scupper your plans for a degree. Even the financial aid that you get at college can be affected by your DUI, and if this is the case you may have to prove you have gone through a rehabilitation program.
The best advice that anyone can give you about your DUI would have been not to drive under the influence in the first place. Of course, it’s a little bit late now and you have a DUI under your belt. All you can do is be as honest as possible with your employer and don’t try to run away from your mistakes.