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How can a DUI conviction impact my life?

On Behalf of | Nov 18, 2018 | Drunk Driving

As you likely already know, or at least suspect, a DUI conviction is not a good thing to have on your Florida driving record. Not only can such a conviction put your driving privileges at risk, it can have other negative impacts on your life as well.

As FindLaw explains, any type of a criminal conviction, including a DUI, can greatly decrease your chances of obtaining a good job. For instance, if you require a professional license to work in your chosen field, the state licensing board could refuse to grant you a license or rescind the one you already have once you receive a criminal conviction.

Background checks

Even if you do not need a license in order to get the job you want, most employers today conduct criminal background checks on job applicants. While the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires that your criminal arrest record be taken off after seven years, your criminal conviction record remains intact forever unless you get your conviction expunged. Consequently, a DUI conviction today could affect your employment ability for the rest of your life.

In addition, the Fair Credit Reporting Act does not apply to employers who conduct their own background checks, only to those who hire an outside agency to do one. Therefore your potential employer could find out about your DUI arrest in addition to your conviction. (S)he can also discover a lot of other negative things about you, including the following:

  • Your driving record in any state where you lived in the past
  • Your driving record in any state where you received a DUI or other vehicle-related conviction
  • Your record of driver’s license suspensions and/or revocations in any state where you lived in the past and the reasons therefor
  • Your court records
  • Your incarceration records
  • Your Facebook posts and those of your friends regarding your arrest and/or conviction

Finally, many employers consider a DUI or other criminal conviction as a black mark against your character and may hire someone else with equal qualifications but a clean criminal record.

This is general educational information only and not intended to provide legal advice.

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