A DWI conviction in Minnesota can have consequences that reach beyond fines, jail time, and a criminal record. If you’re a professional in a specially-licensed field like medicine, law, education, or real estate, a DWI conviction might jeopardize your ability to continue working.
A number of factors will be relevant when it comes to whether or not you’ll lose your license after a DWI conviction, including your specific profession, the severity of the charge, any previous legal issues, and other surrounding circumstances.
This blog will explore how a DWI conviction can impact various professional licenses in Minnesota, the potential disciplinary actions that can follow, and the steps you can take to mitigate these consequences.
Impact of DWI Convictions on Medical Licenses
The board may review your license if you get convicted of a DWI offense; however, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to keep working if you’re on your first offense and there are no aggravating factors in your case.
However, if you’re a repeat offender, you had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.16% or more when you were stopped, you had a minor in the vehicle, or you caused an accident while over the limit, the board may more likely to take action against you.
Potential consequences may include:
- Revocation of your license.
- Suspension of your license for a limited time.
- A period of probation.
Unlike the criminal courts, the function of a professional board is not to punish you. Instead, it will try to decide whether you’re capable of properly discharging your duties in light of your conviction. However, issues related to alcohol and drugs come with negative connotations, so these boards can sometimes treat professionals convicted of DWI offenses harshly.
If you’ve been charged or convicted of a DWI offense but your professional board has yet to decide the fate of your license, there are steps you can take to improve your situation. For example, you could volunteer to attend an alcohol education course or some form of counseling. The board will look favorably on any such measures.
The onus is generally on you to report a DWI conviction to the relevant professional authority. If you fail to do this and it comes to light later, you may face additional consequences.
It should be noted that this is general advice; in practice, there will be significant differences between the responses of different professional boards to different criminal charges.
Other Considerations
The rules in Minnesota require any driver convicted of a DWI offense in Minnesota to have their driving license revoked. For first-time offenders, the suspension period is generally 90 days, though this could be to reduced to 30 days if you plead guilty. The revocation period can be significantly longer in cases involving repeat offenses or aggravating factors.
So, if you drive for work and you’ve been arrested for drunk driving, this rule could spell disaster for your professional life.
However, a court may take your employment situation into account in a situation like this. Also, you should be able to get your license back more quickly if you agree to partake in the ignition interlock device program. Explain your circumstances to your Minnesota DWI attorney; they will be able to make the best case for allowing you back on the road as quickly as possible.
Fighting a DWI-Related Professional License Suspension
If you’re concerned about the impact a DWI conviction (or any other type of criminal issue) might have on your professional life, you should seek legal counsel without delay. Contact us to schedule a free initial consultation about your case.
