Drunk driving charges come with a variety of possible consequences. Motorists accused of intoxication at the wheel may have to pay fines and spend time in jail. They might also lose their driver’s licenses.
In some situations, defendants accused of drunk driving offenses may also experience career setbacks. A conviction could have a chilling effect on a professional’s career ambitions.
When can allegations of impaired driving put a professional’s career at risk?
When they drive for a living
Some people spend most of their day on the road for work. Particularly if a job requires a commercial driver’s license (CDL), a drunk driving conviction could prevent a professional from continuing their work. Those with CDLs may become ineligible for commercial driving for a full year after a first drunk driving offense. Regardless of whether the offense occurred in a personal vehicle or a commercial one, a driver could lose their CDL over a drunk driving conviction.
When they miss too much work
There are several ways that drunk driving charges can affect job attendance. People may miss multiple days of work to attend court or serve an incarceration sentence. Even if they avoid jail time and repeat absences, the penalties of a drunk driving conviction could result in termination. During the standard driver’s license suspension period after a conviction, professionals may struggle to get to work on time. Reliance on other people or public transportation can result in repeated tardiness that could cause job loss or limit advancement opportunities.
When they have advancement ambitions
A drunk driving conviction does not have to cause immediate job loss to damage a professional’s career. Unlike other traffic violations, drunk driving convictions are criminal offenses. They show up when employers perform background checks. Professionals who look for new jobs with other companies or who seek out internal promotions may have to undergo a background check. During that process, a prior conviction may come to light. People may lose out on opportunities, especially when there are other candidates for the same position who do not have convictions on their records.
Realizing that impaired driving charges can result in major career consequences might inspire people to fight their pending charges. Drivers who avoid criminal convictions can potentially also avoid long-term career setbacks after an arrest.