Pharmacists, like many healthcare providers, are held to a higher standard. If you are arrested and convicted of drunk driving, your professional license could be suspended or revoked. If you want to know “can you be a pharmacist with a DUI conviction on your record,” you will be, at least temporarily, unable to continue your work as a pharmacist once your license is suspended or revoked.
For this reason, clearing your name of the drunk driving charges against you may be in your best interest. In some cases, your Los Angeles DUI lawyer may be able to convince the prosecutor to reduce your charges to a wet reckless or work out a plea agreement. Here is more about how your pharmacy career could be affected If you are found guilty of a DUI and what you can do to safeguard your future.
The CSPB Will Report Your DUI Criminal Conviction
The California State Board of Pharmacy (CSBP) has the authority to suspend or revoke your professional license. When you are first placed under arrest, you will be booked. When this happens, police collect your personal information and scan your fingerprints.
Once you are fingerprinted, the CSBP will immediately be notified that you were arrested. From there, they will determine whether your license should be temporarily suspended pending the outcome of your criminal case. However, it is still up to you to inform the CSBP of your arrest, or you could face additional sanctions.
Penalties When a Pharmacist is Convicted of Drunk Driving
Since pharmacists are held to a higher standard, you have more to lose than many other people who may be charged with drunk driving. Not only do you need to face disciplinary proceedings with the CSBP, but you could also be facing jail time, fines, and other serious consequences.
For instance, if this is your first DUI, you will generally be tried with a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail.
However, if you were convicted of a second misdemeanor DUI, you could spend one year in jail with a 90-day mandatory minimum jail requirement according to California Vehicle Code 23540. Habitual DUI offenders or those who have four or more DUI convictions on their record within the last 10 years may face felony DUI charges. This could result in a three-year prison term and up to $10,000 in fines.
There are also multiple collateral consequences you may need to contend with. Your driver’s license is likely to be suspended, and a criminal conviction on your record may ruin your reputation. These types of penalties could have a considerable effect on your life for years to come.
DUI Probation for Pharmacists
If you are currently working as a pharmacist when you were convicted of a DUI, not only could you be subject to criminal penalties but professional discipline as well. You must notify your employer of your probation within 30 days of your trial judgment per the CSBP’s Disciplinary Guidelines. Your employer and any prospective employers will need to know any restrictions you may be facing, the conditions of your probation, and any other relevant terms.
If you are hoping to find a new job as a pharmacist while on probation for a DUI, you also need to notify the CSBP. Generally, you are expected to do so within 10 days. You will need to provide the CSBP with your supervisor’s contact information, their work address, and other relevant details.
The board is likely to reach out to your new employer to discuss your job responsibilities and work performance. If you fail to notify the CSBP, you could be found in violation of your probation. Not only could your probation be revoked, but your professional license could be revoked as well.
Your Pharmacy License and Career Opportunities Could Be Affected
The CSBP is likely to order your pharmacist license suspended or revoked, especially if you have more than one DUI charge on your record over the last seven years per California Business and Professions Code 4301(k).
The board may feel as though your criminal record makes it impossible for you to handle the responsibilities that come with a pharmacist license, including your professional responsibilities on the job. However, by negotiating a plea bargain for a lesser offense or getting the DUI charges against you dismissed entirely, you may be able to continue working as a pharmacist despite your arrest.
A DUI Will Not Automatically Fall Off Your Criminal Record in California
While you might have hoped to move forward with your life after the DUI conviction, you may not be able to just yet. Your arrest and conviction will remain on your criminal record for the rest of your life unless you can secure an expungement. However, Your DUI conviction will remain on your driving record for as long as 10 years according to California Vehicle Code 1808(b)(1).
You may not be sure how to get your DUI expunged in California and qualify for expungement, even if you seemingly meet the eligibility requirements. There is no waiting period, so as long as you have completed the terms of your sentence or probation and have not been arrested on another criminal offense since your conviction, you may qualify. Once a DUI is expunged from your record, it is as if the conviction never existed.
That way, when you apply for future pharmacist positions, you can truthfully answer no when you are asked if you have ever been convicted of a crime. Your DUI will not be reflected on your background check either. If you have already been convicted of drunk or impaired driving, expungement may be your best opportunity to protect your future opportunities as a pharmacist.
Consult a Reputable Los Angeles DUI Attorney for Help Protecting Your Pharmacy Career Today
You do not wanna throw away all the hard work you put into becoming a pharmacist over a single mistake. If you are facing drunk driving charges, not only do you need to worry about the criminal penalties, but you also need to prepare for the impact a conviction will have on your career. When the stakes are this high, relying on a public defender with an overwhelming caseload and lack of resources may not be in your best interests.
Take your DUI defense strategy and career seriously. Connect with a top-rated Los Angeles DUI lawyer to build the strongest defense possible based on the circumstances of your case. Explore your legal options further when you contact our office for a confidential consultation by phone or through our secured contact form.
