Most people understand that there are many consequences of DUIs, such as facing fines or jail time. On top of those issues, there are others to consider, too.
In particular, one aspect of DUIs that can catch people by surprise is the social impact. If news of a DUI arrest or conviction becomes widespread, it’s possible for that news to damage a person’s reputation, lead to job loss, put their professional license at risk or cause other problems between them and their family or friends.
Is it possible to prevent a DUI from reaching the news?
It’s possible to minimize the risk of a DUI reaching the news by talking to an attorney about your concerns as soon as you can. Not all news stations report DUIs, but DUI arrests and convictions are public records. So, even if the arrest or conviction isn’t part of the local news, you should know that others could look up the offense by searching for it in the future.
If you are able to successfully defend the case, then it’s possible to have those records sealed in some cases. Doing that could help avoid uncomfortable conversations and other problems you could run into with a DUI arrest on your record.
Will my employer know about my DUI if I don’t tell them?
It’s possible but not guaranteed. If your employer performs a background check and you have a DUI arrest or conviction, then they will be able to find out about it. However, if you are working for them already and no one requires you to report the DUI, then they may not need to know.
Keep in mind that many jobs require you to be able to drive for work, so if your employer carries insurance on you, you may be required to report a DUI and could see your job be put at risk.
Everyone has different circumstances, so it’s important to get to know the penalties you could face, look at your defensive options and then start looking into the ways you can minimize the fallout from an arrest, charge or conviction.
