Drinking and driving is a serious offense worldwide. It is dangerous for you, society, and the surrounding people. While offenders don’t quite mind getting arrested for such crimes, what they don’t realize are the consequences of DUI arrest.
Irrespective of how hard people and law enforcement are trying to maintain road safety, people driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxication are making things worse. They not only endanger the lives of the bystanders but also put their own lives on the line.
In the year 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) mentioned that about 13,524 people died because of impaired driving. Additionally, it was around 32% of all deaths that were a result of a car accident.
But have you ever wondered about the consequences of a DUI arrest? While you might think that the penalties for drunk driving are limited to fines and going to jail, its future implications do not end there.
Hi. In today’s blog, I will discuss exactly how the consequences of a DUI arrest can ruin your life. So, if you want to know how, keep reading this blog until the end, and thank me later!
Consequences of DUI Arrest That You Must Know About
When it comes to DUI arrests, people often do not regret the fact that they have to go to jail. However, only after a few years do they realize the neverending consequences of the arrest on their daily lives.
While it is true that there are people who can avoid an arrest or even jail time, this is mainly for selective people. There are times when the legal system puts an individual on IDAP programs and even attaches a DUI Ignition Interlock device to monitor them.
However, this is not something for repeat offenders. From education to employment and even adoption, records of a DUI arrest affect you for the longest time.
Here are some of the future consequences of DUI arrest that you need to be aware of:
Current Employment and Future Employment Opportunities
A DUI – either a simple misdemeanor or a felony – can hurt your life. Depending on its severity, you could face some harsh legal penalties.
Before you start researching regular DUI and aggravated DUI meanings and differences, let’s consider the fact that a DUI, in general, does not look great on a resume. It can potentially ruin your life career-wise.
A DUI often leaves individuals with limited career choices. Depending on your job field, such a charge can result in an inability to apply for a particular position.
This is especially true regarding professions that rely on driving (taxi, truck driver, etc.) and jobs at the medical facility (e.g., practitioner).
Even if you do arrange limited commuting hours with the court so that you can work, these limitations can make your schedule more stressful and difficult to manage.
Finally, some employers may have a zero-tolerance policy regarding DUI convictions, so you might also lose your job.
College Scholarships
Other than hindering your current employment and future employment opportunities, another hidden danger of a DUI conviction is its negative impact on your education.
As a student looking to apply for a scholarship, one of the requirements you need to fulfill is to ensure good grades. However, there are also disciplinary requirements that you must meet.
Failure to do so can result in the college withdrawing the scholarship if the student violates a law (e.g., getting a DUI).
Moreover, a DUI conviction may make it impossible to enroll in a college. The school may decide to check the legal history of their applicants, and a criminal record can be quite an obstacle. This can negatively impact any future career plans they may have.
Rental Housing
Employers and schools are not the only ones that do background checks on applicants. Landlords must also be cautious about who they rent their property to.
A thorough screening process is a must to determine whether the potential tenant is reliable and trustworthy.
Suppose an individual has a DUI conviction on their criminal record. In that case, they may be at a disadvantage in rental housing opportunities compared to applicants with clean criminal records.
Although renting with a DUI on your record is possible, it can make apartment hunting more challenging and limit your rental housing opportunities.
Child Custody
If you are a parent and are going through the tedious and heartbreaking process of a divorce, let me tell you something. The record of a DUI arrest is something that the lawyers are going to use against you.
And, TBH, we all know that a DUI conviction can majorly impact society’s perception of you. They might even doubt the fact that you can take care of your children or protect them.
Moreover, if you’re struggling with substance dependence, it can be used against you when deciding who gets primary child custody in a divorce. If there’s already a child custody order, it can be modified following your DUI conviction.
What’s more, if your child or children were with you in the vehicle at the time of the arrest, it can raise safety concerns.
Such reckless behavior will directly impact your children’s safety and well-being. Therefore, you could be additionally charged with child endangerment, which comes with its penalties.
Adoption Process
Finally, one of the major consequences of DUI arrest is its effects on adoption. For instance, let’s say you don’t have your kids, but you plan on adopting them.
Well, this is something that happens to most people. However, what a lot of people do not know is that a DUI arrest can easily get in the way of this dream.
Apart from the tedious paperwork that you would normally need, the adoption process also requires a very thorough background check.
DUI charges, like any other offense, remain on your criminal record. Once you get arrested for this crime, this will stay on your criminal record for the longest time, depending on the laws of your state.
And we all know how difficult it is to go through the process of adoption with a tainted record.
With a DUI on your record, you will not be able to pass the adoption center’s screening process. Therefore, you might have to set aside any family aspirations that you may have.
A Wrong Decision With Long-Term Consequences
Undoubtedly, having a DUI on your record can make every area of your life more challenging. In addition to fines, jail time, and other legal penalties, it can wreak havoc on your personal and professional life.
By trying to avoid a DUI charge, you can avoid the long list of consequences that come with it. But can you avoid a DUI arrest or charges?
You see, when it comes to first-time offenders, the legal system tries to give them sentencing options. They do so in order to help them avoid imprisonment.
Additionally, they might also get other alternatives, including community service or even probation. So, if you want to avoid the charges, it is best that you get in touch with a good lawyer.
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