Drink and get behind the wheel of a car even for a short distance home can cause years of pain and anguish to you, not to mention cause problems for your employment. Unfortunately, people learn this lesson the hard way and do this almost every day in the United States. Drinking and then getting behind a motor vehicle is never a good idea.
Will a DUI affect my employment? Yes, it will in many ways. If you drink and drive and get pulled over your going to jail in most cases. Most need a way to get to and from work and need a vehicle for almost everything in between so getting a DUI will certainly make things tougher in that respect. Get multiple DUI’s and you can find yourself never driving again.
If you depend on your license as part of your employment like a delivery driver, commercial driver, or currier then a DUI will affect your employment more than someone who just uses there vehicle to get to and from work.
Will a DUI prevent you from getting a job?
The short answer is it could. Most employers will ask if you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony. With that said most employers also have the ability to run a background check on you and most will.
The DUI conviction will show up and it could affect your ability to get a job, especially if driving is part of the job description. If the career does not involve much driving or dealign with sensitive material then your employer could be much more understanding about the DUI.
Will an employer be able to see I got a DUI?
If you get charged with a DWI driving while impaired or DUI driving under the influence your employer can in-fact see this when running a case search online. While you will have most likely faced fines and even jail time depending on if it was your first offense and if the DUI had bodily harm to someone this information will be made public and appear on a public record search. A search can show the following information:
- Charges that have been filed against you in a criminal, traffic or civil court
- Case numbers that belong to the charges
- Dates the charges were filed
- Status of the cases
Related questions to DUI and employment
How long will a DUI continue to show up on a background check?
Criminal convictions will remain on your record permanently. With that said the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) does not set a limit on how far back a background search can go. However, most employers look back over the past seven years.
How will I know if I did not get hired as the result of a DUI?
The EEOC or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission requires all employers to alert candidates if they did not get hired as the result of data obtained in a background check. You are also entitled to a copy of the report and can dispute information that you feel is not accurate.
If you get a DUI seek legal help
If you get a DUI it is recommended to seek legal help from an attorney who specializes in DUI law. They could help you navigate the court system, possibly reduce jail time and fines. They could also help with expunging a DUI record if you qualify to do so. Remember, it is much better for your safety and others not to drink and drive in the first place. With ride services like Uber and Lyft, there is no reason to have to drink and then drive.
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