A DUI conviction can affect a person’s employment in a number of ways. If convicted, a DUI is not like a simple traffic ticket. It will likely show up on a criminal background check. A company refusing to hire a person based upon a criminal conviction does not count as discrimination. Likewise, if you currently have a job, a company can decide to run a background check and such can show up and cause the loss of a job. This may be particularly true in cases where part of your employment requires driving a company vehicle. However, loss of employment may not happen immediately, if at all. CBS Local Los Angeles reports on a sanitation worker still driving on the job even after being charged with DUI.
On April 5th, sanitation worker Adrian Corrales was driving a sanitation vehicle at about 3 a.m. of the 5 Freeway. Corrales’ normal hours are between 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Corrales had a blood-alcohol content of just above .15%, which is near twice the legal limit at the time he was caught.
This is not Corrales’ first DUI charge – he was convicted in 2012, which was before he was employed with the city. He is also facing the DUI enhancement of driving under the influence of alcohol within 10 years of a previous DUI conviction.
Though he was charged nearly four months ago, Corrales is still employed with the city sanitation service.
When asked if Corrales had permission to be driving the truck on the night of the accident, he refused to answer.
A company spokesperson replied to questions about why he was still on the job by saying that employees were entitled to due process.
Corrales is due in court at some time this month to enter a plea to the charges.