It’s Friday and you have had a long week at work. As usual, you drive over to your favorite Mineola watering hole to consume some adult beverages. When happy hour ends, you decide to drive home instead of moving to the next bar with your friends.
Unfortunately, your weekend takes a turn when you suddenly see red and blue lights flashing in your rear view mirror. After a field sobriety test, you end up in the back of a squad car and on your way to the police station. You are now facing a driving while intoxicated (DWI) charge. This was not how you had imagined your weekend going.
A drunk driving conviction can cost thousands of dollars in court fees and fines, land you in jail and cost you in ways you might barely be able to imagine. For example, a DWI conviction can seriously affect your career.
You lose your license
As part of normal punitive actions, people who have a DWI conviction generally lose their driver’s licenses. If you cannot drive to work, you could end up losing your job, unless you qualify for a provisional license. However, if you have to drive as part of your profession, as a truck driver for example, your employment may depend on having a clean driving record. A DWI might be a violation of your employment contract.
Loss of professional license
If you are a doctor, teacher or other state licensed professional, you could lose your license to practice. When you obtain a state license for certain professions, there is often a code of conduct that you must observe. By getting a DWI, you could lose your professional license due to committing an act that discredits you.
Problems finding other employment
If you do lose your job as a result of your DWI, then you will need to find another one. Unfortunately, this could turn out to be extremely difficult. Most employers require you to disclose any criminal convictions on your record or they do a background check. Without a clean record, you may not be eligible for many jobs in the field you prefer.
If you are facing a DWI charge, it is important that you take steps to properly defend yourself and fight back against the charges. By beating the charges, you can avoid the serious consequences that come with a DWI.