When potential clients ask us questions about representation for drunk driving offenses one of the most common is whether they will lose their job. Naturally, this depends on a number of factors, including how much work you have missed because you were in jail, and whether you drive for a living, to name a few.
It is also common for people in leadership positions to believe their jobs may be in jeopardy because of the public scrutiny that accompanies a drunk driving arrest. After all, the broad sense of embarrassment that comes with alcohol related arrests may be too much to overcome for those who are the faces of high profile organizations.
So while your job prospects may be unclear after a DUI arrest, you should be ready for the following implications.
Your insurance may be affected –If your policy is terminated due to an alcohol related criminal charge, you will likely have to obtain SR-22 insurance, which may be particularly expensive.
You may miss some time from work – Waiting to post bail is a process, and the authorities are in no hurry to get you on your way. This is because the police will likely run your name through several state criminal databases to ensure you are not subject to any outstanding criminal warrants before releasing you.
You may be required to undergo an assessment – While you may not be ordered by the court to have an alcohol dependency screening, but it would not be out of the ordinary for your employer to seek one on your behalf.
Your employer could re-evaluate your status – As we alluded to earlier, those who drive for a living may have their jobs in jeopardy with drunk driving conviction. So if you are a commercial truck driver or bus driver, it is essential that you have an experienced criminal defense attorney representing you in order to protect your livelihood. Those with high profile public personas (i.e. news anchors, C-level executives), could also be substantially affected by a DUI conviction. These employees are inherently held to a higher standard because of their status.
If you have additional questions about the legal implications of a drunk driving charge, contact an experienced Los Angeles DUI defense attorney at 310-445-5900 for additional information and advice.
The preceding is not intended to be legal advice.
