People may face driving under the influence (DUI) charges because of a car crash or a traffic stop. In either case, many people rush to plead guilty because they think it is the best option available. Defendants often hope to receive lenient treatment from the courts when they cooperate and to minimize the disruption to their lives by foregoing a criminal trial.
Contrary to their expectations, a guilty plea can often prove incredibly disruptive and may limit their opportunities indefinitely. Individuals who have DUI convictions on their records may experience noticeable setbacks in their professional development and in their social lives.
DUI records are permanent
Some people hope to avoid major career and personal setbacks by minimizing their time in court. They fail to consider how losing their licenses and installing an ignition interlock device (IID) in their vehicles could affect them. Even those who recognize those risks may assume that they can eliminate the record of a prior DUI if they wait long enough and avoid future arrests.
Occasionally, people who break the law once may be eligible to expunge their criminal records. They can ask the state to seal the record of their conviction. That is not an option for those with a DUI conviction. The record of their offense remains part of the public record for the rest of their lives.
Anytime an employer, a landlord or an educational institution performs a background check, the prior DUI offense may influence the decision that the other party makes. Employers may choose to deny people promotions or job offers because of a previous DUI conviction. People may even struggle to continue their education because colleges and scholarship organizations often perform background checks.
Rumors about a DUI offense can also affect someone’s social life. The modern dating landscape is relatively harsh, and people tend to perform online searches before getting serious with someone. Some people may end things with prospective romantic partners when they discover online records of their arrest and conviction.
Social acquaintances and co-workers aware of a DUI offense may limit their interaction with the person convicted. It may be harder to network and socialize in the same way someone did before their conviction. People may not invite them to parties out of fear that they might drive drunk afterward, for example.
The good news for those arrested for alleged DUI offenses is that there are a variety of defense strategies that can help them avoid a conviction. Understanding the long-term impact a single DUI offense can have may inspire people to get help fighting the charges they’re facing.