How a DUI conviction can negatively impact your life

The last thing you want on your record is a DUI conviction, and you do not want to lose your freedom and spend substantial time in jail or prison. But have you ever thought about what other negative impacts a DUI conviction can have on your life? For instance, you could lose your driving privileges and face hefty fines, fees and court costs before you can get your driver’s license back.

Unfortunately, any type of a criminal conviction, for DUI or anything else, can pose additional negative consequences for your future, especially when it comes to getting and keeping the job you want. For example, if you need a license to practice your chosen profession or vocation, Colorado’s various licensing boards may refuse to grant you one. Should you require a Commercial Driver’s License, you can rest assured that your chances of getting one are slim to none with a DUI conviction on your record.

Background checks

Even if the job you want requires no license, most employers nowadays run background checks on their job applicants. If yours reveals a DUI conviction, they may well give the job to another applicant who possesses the same job skills as you, but whose record is spotless.

In addition to your DUI conviction, a background check can reveal a number of other potentially damaging things about you:

• Your driving record from any state where you have lived
• Suspensions and/or revocations of your driver’s license from any state where you ever lived
• Your court records from any state where you were charged with or convicted of a crime
• Your complete incarceration records, both state and federal
• Your social media information, that of your friends, and that of your family regarding your DUI or any other conviction

While no employer or prospective employer has the right to outright discriminate against you, many employers view a criminal conviction as a black mark against your character. It may make them think that you are a troublemaker, a shady character, or just someone they would rather not have working for them if they can give the job to someone else instead. Such attitudes can negatively impact the jobs you can get and keep well into the future. Unfortunately, no criminal conviction for DUI or otherwise ever comes off your record unless you manage to get it expunged.