How a DUI Conviction Can Affect Your Employment and Career

 Posted on April 05, 2018 in DUI

Being charged with driving under the influence, or a DUI, can affect many different areas of a person’s life. A person may find that their entire livelihood could be impacted by a DUI charge, including many potentially negative impacts on employment. Some factors that can affect employment are: 

1. Transportation. If a person is convicted of a DUI, they will face driving restrictions that can make it difficult to get to work. A first-time DUI conviction in Illinois carries a revocation of driving privileges for at least one year and a period in which their vehicle registration is suspended. Further convictions or more serious offenses can result in longer suspensions or the seizure of the driver’s vehicle.  
2. Time. Being charged with a DUI can lead to a person spending time in court that could have otherwise been spent working as they try to fight their charge. A DUI conviction can result in further lost time, as the person may be required to participate in community service or counseling, or they may need to serve time in jail.   
3. Job Requirements. When an individual is convicted of a DUI, it remains on their driving record permanently. Illinois is an at-will employment state, which means that an employee can be terminated for any reason at any time, so long as it is not due to a discriminatory factor such as race, sex, or religion. If a person’s job involves driving in some capacity, and they receive a DUI, their employer may decide that they are unfit for the job.
4. Policy Violations. Some jobs come with the expectation that an individual will maintain a clean criminal record. A company may have a policy that if an employee is convicted of any crime while working there, they can be terminated. You may be required to notify an employer immediately after an arrest occurs, and they will determine what actions they want to take.
5. Effect on Future Jobs. Not only can a DUI affect a person’s current job status, it can also create an obstacle in attaining future employment. Some professions may require that an applicant disclose any prior convictions when applying to a job, and the prospective employee may be denied employment due to their criminal history. A DUI could also present a problem in obtaining licensing necessary for certain career fields, such as medicine or law.

Contact Our Arlington Heights DUI Defense Lawyers

DUI charges can present significant challenges for a person’s career. An Arlington Heights DUI defense lawyer can aid you in the complicated legal process and will work towards getting your charges reduced or even dropped altogether. Call Scott F. Anderson, Attorney at Law, at 847-253-3400 to schedule a free consultation today.

Sources

https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a118.pdf

https://www.illinois.gov/idol/faqs/Pages/default.aspx

https://www.aol.com/2014/01/21/dui-will-destroy-your-career/

http://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1309&ChapAct=225%C2%A0ILCS%C2%A060/&ChapterID=24&ChapterName=PROFESSIONS+AND+OCCUPATIONS&ActName=Medical+Practice+Act+of+1987.