If you are being charged with a DUI, you are likely very scared of the potential consequences. There are criminal consequences, like fines or jail time. And there are civil consequences like the suspension of your driver’s license.
But you might also be worried about the indirect consequences, like the potential damage to your reputation or employment. A DUI conviction can have disastrous consequences. If you are facing charges for a DUI, you need the help of highly skilled and professional DUI lawyers to zealously advocate on your behalf.
Contact a Los Angeles DUI attorney today for a free consultation and case review.
The Consequences to Your Employment Will Depend on Your Job
Usually, any criminal conviction, even including misdemeanors like DUIs, will have some effect on your reputation and employment prospects. While you might not be fired from your job, it will likely depend on what type of job you work because some jobs will care more than others about a DUI conviction.
Transportation
If you are employed in the transportation industry, such as a truck driver, bus driver, or delivery driver, the consequences of a DUI will likely be the harshest. This will usually depend on whether you need a commercial driver’s license (CDL) for your job. This is because California state law requires an automatic year-long suspension of your CDL if you are convicted of a DUI in any circumstances.
Even if your job does not require a CDL, like if you are a delivery driver or ride-share driver, your job might still be in danger. This is because of certain companies’ insurance policies or company policies. In these situations, the result will likely be the same because you will not be able to do your job.
A highly skilled DUI lawyer in Los Angeles might be able to help you avoid the consequences of a DUI conviction by negotiating a lower charge with the prosecutor. To save your job in transportation, you need the help of a skilled Los Angeles DUI lawyer.
Professional Licensing
If you work a job that requires you to have some sort of professional license, like a doctor, lawyer, nurse, etc., you might also face discipline from the state licensing board. This is because it is almost always a requirement that you refrain from committing any crimes while holding your professional license, DUI included.
Usually, for a first offense, your professional license will not be suspended, but you will likely be punished by the board, such as by a fine. However, the state licensure board can suspend your license if they feel it is necessary. This is why you need the assistance of a Los Angeles DUI lawyer. Your career that you worked so hard for is too important not to.
Jobs Involving Children
If you work a job involving children, such as a school teacher or daycare worker, it is possible that you will face severe consequences for your DUI. This is because your bosses or parents might feel that you are irresponsible or dangerous because of your DUI conviction. The parents of children that you work with, if they find out about your conviction, might also pressure your bosses to fire you.
To save your job, you should hire a DUI attorney in Los Angeles that might be able to negotiate a lower charge with the prosecutor. Sometimes your attorney can even negotiate your DUI down to a simple traffic offense, like reckless driving. You need a Los Angeles DUI lawyer on your side to protect yourself.
Employers Refusing to Hire You Because of a DUI
In California, as well as the majority of other states, you are somewhat protected if you have a DUI charge on your record. This is because California has adopted the “Ban-the-Box” law, which stops employers from asking about your criminal record until later on in the job interview process. This is because the State of California wants employers to review your qualifications first before being caught by the stigma of an arrest record.
However, this law does not mean that the employer has to hire you. Just because they have to wait until later on to view your arrest record does not mean that they cannot later decide to hire someone else. Unfortunately, lots of employers simply refuse to hire people with any criminal record, even something as seemingly minor as a DUI.
This is another reason why you need the help of a highly skilled Los Angeles DUI attorney. If the lawyer is able to negotiate a lower charge, you might not even be required to disclose the charge to any potential employers because, most of the time, the questions about your criminal record do not include traffic offenses.
You Have a Right to the Lawyer Of Your Choice
Any time that you are charged with a criminal offense, you have a constitutional right under the 6th Amendment. You should take advantage of this to hire the best Los Angeles DUI lawyer possible to fight on your behalf.
When your reputation and livelihood are on the line, do not fight the State of California alone, you should contact a highly skilled and professional DUI attorney in Los Angeles.
Contact a Los Angeles DUI Attorney
Truthfully, getting a DUI does not always harm your career prospects. But it certainly can, and it can be difficult to know for sure if it will or not until after it happens. You should not take this risk. Instead, you should hire skilled Los Angeles DUI lawyers to protect you and your rights.
The State of California is very large, with a lot of money, and is very good at getting criminal convictions. If you are facing a DUI, you need someone who has experience fighting for their clients. Contact a Los Angeles DUI lawyer today for a completely free consultation and case review.
