A series of poor life choices that leads to an arrest and conviction for drunk driving can have far-reaching consequences on a person’s life. Besides the legal consequences, a Florida DUI conviction can also hurt your career and employability.
Here are three ways a DUI charge and conviction in the Sunshine State can dim your career.
You could lose your job
If you are arrested and charged with DUI, you will be required to appear in court for your trial. Now, this comes with a number of problems. First, you have to skip work for your court hearings. And if you are convicted and sentenced to jail, you will certainly miss work for the duration of your incarceration.
If you are a first-time offender, your license will be suspended for up to six months. As a result, timely transport to work can be a huge challenge, especially if you rely on your car to get to work.
Your professional license could be on the line
If you drive for a living, you should be well aware that drunk driving could potentially end your career. However, many other professionals are at risk too. Pilots, doctors, nurses and teachers too can get their professional licenses suspended or revoked if their DUI charge leads to a conviction. This is especially true if they are charged with a felony.
DUI and future career prospects
A DUI conviction can ruin your career before it even begins. This can happen in two ways: first, a DUI conviction can bar you from getting admission into some colleges. It can also prevent you from getting the financial aid you might badly need to fund your studies. And this means that you may never get the opportunity to pursue your dream career.
Second, a DUI conviction will remain on your criminal record forever. Meaning, potential employers will learn about your previous conviction whenever they run a background check on you. And in a highly competitive job market, this might work against you during the recruitment process.
A DUI arrest and conviction can negatively impact your current and future career prospects. Knowing your legal options can help you defend yourself and safeguard your rights when charged with drunk driving in Florida.
