How DWI Charges Can Affect Your Employment Opportunities

There are some basic and obvious legal results of a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) charge or conviction: fines, suspension or revocation of a driver’s license, community service, probation or even jail. Many people charged with a DWI do not realize that their future careers may also be in jeopardy. Consulting with a fairfax criminal lawyer as soon as there is a DWI charge can save the accused a lot of time and frustration, and let them know their options when it comes to reporting the charge to their employers or future employers. A fairfax dwi lawyer can also help people by seeking to dismiss the charges or with a non-disclosure proceeding so the DWI charge will not stay on a criminal record forever.

Any legal issue can affect a person’s job or employment opportunities. People that already hold a job when they face a DWI charge may find their court dates conflicting with their work schedule, or have difficulty getting to work punctually without a driver’s license. If a person is sentenced to community service, this can impact their work schedule for weeks or months - costing them money and potentially leading to problems with their employer. If the person charged with a DWI works for the government or as a government contractor, they may be subject to random and unannounced background checks that impact their security clearance or job security.

Many employers and job applications ask if the applicant has a criminal history, or specifically if there is a DWI charge on their record. Many businesses and companies see this as an indication that the individual may be untrustworthy or make bad decisions in the workplace, and hiring a person with a DWI record may increase liability insurance rates. This does not just apply to companies hiring drivers or equipment operators either - general labor, office jobs and even skilled or professional jobs may take DWI’s into account when hiring. A fairfax dwi lawyer can help answer any questions about legal options when applying for a job or keeping a job.

Lying about a DWI charge or not answering at all can also lead to trouble since many companies now perform routine background checks on applicants. If they discover that a person has lied or omitted information on their application they are unlikely to hire that person. Some companies will do routine checks on their employee’s driving records or criminal records, so it is important to know how a company handles employees with DWI charges.