How a DUI can Affect Other Aspects of Your Life

DUI attorney James E. Novak can explain how a DUI can affect other aspects of your life during a case review at his Phoenix, AZ, law practice. A DUI conviction can follow you for years, affecting current and future employment opportunities, in addition to costing thousands of dollars, and possible jail time. Working with a skilled DUI attorney can result in reduced or a complete dismissal of the charges. Contact The Law Office of James Novak today for more information about the effects of a DUI on your life and the benefits of working with an experienced attorney.

There are a variety of consequences you will face with a DUI charge. In addition to possible jail time, you also face a minimum 90-day license suspension and steep fines. Once your license suspension is complete, you will be required to have an ignition-interlocking device (IID) installed in your vehicle for 12 to 18 months, which requires you to blow into the device every 15 minutes to measure your BAC levels. Regardless of the charges against you, you will likely be required to participate in a drug or alcohol screening and treatment program. Some judges may even order you to wear an ankle bracelet that monitors your BAC levels for a specified period of time.

A DUI remains on your record for seven years, and will affect future employment, higher education, and housing opportunities.

Aside from the consequences directly related to your DUI conviction, other areas of your life can also be affected. After a DUI conviction, your car insurance rates will increase. A DUI can also affect your current employment. Certain positions require you to report any such violations, and may result in a suspension or termination. Additionally, not reporting a DUI conviction could be a breach of an employment contract and result in a termination.

A DUI remains on your record for seven years, and will appear any time someone performs a background check on you. This can affect future employment, higher education, and housing opportunities. Most employment applications require you to disclose any criminal history, while some will just require any felony convictions, which, in Arizona, is an aggravated DUI.

Many scholarships and financial aid programs have specific guidelines that recipients must follow, and criminal convictions could result in a loss of funding. Most collegiate clubs and athletic organizations will terminate membership if a student is involved in any criminal activity. A DUI conviction can affect membership opportunities in professional organizations for graduate school.

Most landlords perform background checks on potential tenants. While a misdemeanor is not as likely to prevent you from renting, many landlords may not rent to those with a felony conviction, and some refuse to rent to anyone with a criminal background.

If you have been accused of driving under the influence and are worried about the effects a DUI conviction could have on your life, contact The Law Office of James Novak as soon as possible. Working with a skilled attorney can result in complete dismissal, or a significant reduction, of the charges against you.