The serious consequences of a
DUI conviction do not end in the courtroom. In fact, having a drunk driving
conviction on your criminal record can have a negative impact on your
employment and educational opportunities.
DUI & Employment
Whether a particular job requires a special license or not, some employers
have a policy against hiring anyone with a criminal record, including
a DUI conviction. Both employers and insurance companies may see you as
a liability risk, increasing the insurance rates the employer must pay.
If you are currently working, your company may have a policy that says
a criminal conviction is grounds for firing. If your employer has that
policy, you may lose your job.
If your current profession requires you to hold some type of license, the
agency in charge of issuing you your license may make it mandatory to
report any criminal arrests or convictions. If you lose your license,
then you lose your job.
If your employer doesn’t penalize you for being convicted, there
are also other ways a DUI conviction can indirectly affect your job performance.
For example, if your license was suspended and you failed to retain a
restricted license to go to/from work, you may have to rely on public
transportation or ridesharing services, which can either be costly or
unreliable, causing you to be constantly tardy. Whether it’s mandatory
court appearances or jail time, you may be forced to miss work.
DUI & Education
A DUI conviction can have lasting effects for high schoolers enrolling
in colleges and current college students.
When it comes to college admissions, along with taking entrance exams,
writing letters of reference and submitting essays, colleges may ask for
information on your criminal history and records of arrest. While some
universities will automatically deny you admission, others may require
you to complete—or agree to complete—a drug/alcohol counseling
program. Failure to disclose any DUI arrests or convictions can result
in a denial of admission for falsifying your application.
If you are a current college student, many colleges have a policy that
students charged with a crime while enrolled are required to report the
incident to the school within a certain time frame. Failure to do so may
result in suspension or expulsion. In some universities, a conviction
can result in automatic expulsion.
As far as financial aid is concerned, many federal programs will not award
such aid to students with DUI convictions. Private scholarship programs
may have clauses that if a recipient is convicted of a crime, including
DUI, his/her scholarship will be revoked. If you are a student-athlete,
a DUI arrest or conviction can result in being suspended from games and
team activities, or getting kicked off the team at worst.
If your university does not penalize students for their criminal actions,
the DUI penalties may indirectly affect student performance. For example,
if you were sentenced to a jail sentence, being behind bars will prevent
you from attending your classes and may result in a decline in your grades.
Let Our Daytona Beach Criminal Defense Attorney Help You
A DUI conviction can jeopardize employment and education, which is why
your best move is to retain legal representation from an experienced criminal
defense attorney as soon as possible. With more than 35 years of combined
experience, our legal team at Law Offices of Robert Stepniak understands what it
takes to protect your rights and future. We can conduct a thorough evaluation
of your case, determine your available legal options, and help you obtain
the best results possible.
Do not hesitate to get yourself back on the right track and
contact us for a free consultation today.