Driving while impaired is considered a serious crime, and state laws impose harsh penalties and punishments against both first-time and repeat offenders. Unfortunately, few drivers stop to think about the long-term consequences of their actions before opting to get behind the wheel while drunk.
Is it possible to lose a job after being convicted of a DWI? The answer is yes. Apart from potentially having to pay hefty fines, spending time behind bars, and losing your driver’s license as a result of the DWI charge, you may also face financial difficulties due to the loss of your job.
Many DWI penalties have a domino effect. If you’re arrested for DWI and are unable to get out on bail, you may find yourself missing work due to your being behind bars. You may also need to deal with a license suspension, and may have difficulty getting to and from work everyday. A Minnesota judge may also ask you to fulfill a number of hours of community service as part of your punishment, which may require you to ask time off from work.
Although it doesn’t happen to everyone, your current employer may have set policies that could lead to your termination if they discover that you were convicted of DWI, or if you have excessive absences due to your fulfillment of jail time or community service. If you are not fired, your employer may opt to limit your job description to activities that do not entail driving. Changes like these can affect your enjoyment of work, or your ability to make a decent living.
A DWI charge can be especially damaging if you require security clearance, since your background may be subject to extra scrutiny. A conviction may cost you your clearance, or may make it difficult for you to get security clearance in the future.
While a DWI may not cause you to lose your job now, a criminal record could possibly prevent you from being hired for another job should you lose your current position for reasons other than a DWI, or decide to change companies later on. It’s common practice for employers to do routine background checks on potential new hires. A DWI cannot be expunged from your criminal record, and a number of companies require a clean criminal and/or driving record as a condition of employment.
If you are arrested for DWI in Minnesota, your conviction may have serious consequences on your employment, as well as your future financial status. It is in your best interests that you select the right DWI attorney to handle your case as soon as possible.
Source: DWI Job Loss, published on http://www.dwipenalties.net/dwijobloss.html.
