DUI consequences sometimes reach a lot further than just short-term. Things you might think of as short-term consequences are going to court, community service, fines, attendance of a driving education program, suspension of driver's license and maybe even some jail time. Rises in insurance premiums may be short term as well while you rebuild your credibility.
What are the long-term consequences of a DUI? Let's put reputation on top of the list; this might be especially true for well-known individuals, such as actors, actresses or politicians. If the news about your DUI is far-reaching, it can sabotage your reputation irreparably. Once a stigma has been attached to your name, it is not easily removed, and sometimes impossible to do so.
Relationships can be affected. People's perception of you by church members, coworkers, employers, the public and even family members may be stained. You can lose your job, your respectability, and your privacy.
Employment opportunities may be threatened. A conviction of a DUI may not only cause you to lose your job, but could also affect future jobs. Future jobs may be affected by background checks. Most employers run criminal background checks on potential new hires. If you have experienced a felony or misdemeanor DUI conviction, it is likely to show up in a background check. Some employers may not want to hire someone convicted of a DUI, and jobs that require driving are pretty much out of the question.
Background checks are also usually conducted when trying to lease an apartment or house. A landlord may see a DUI conviction as a potential problem for the neighborhood or community. More than one conviction can add weight to that viewpoint.
Revocation of your driver's license is another long-term consequence of a DUI conviction. This does not usually happen on a first offense, but when it does happen, it can impair you from driving for your lifetime. The inability to drive can close a lot of doors for you, both in employment and in your personal life.
If you have been charged with a DUI and not yet convicted, you may be able to avoid a conviction by seeking legal help. If you can get the charges dropped or even lessened, you stand a better chance of avoiding long-term consequences. We encourage you to contact Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman L.L.P. today to speak with a Reno DUI lawyer.
Source: BACTrack, "Long-term DUI Consequences," accessed Sep. 02, 2015