If you are facing your first DUI, you may initially focus on more of the short-term issues. However, a single DUI can have both short- and long-term impacts.
In fact, depending on the course of your life and your goals, a single DUI can alter the path that your future might take.
Career path changes
Forbes discusses what happens after getting charged with a DUI crime. First, you could face the possibility of time in jail or large fines and fees. This is often the part that people focus the most on. However, this is just the start.
You may struggle to find employment in the aftermath of a DUI conviction. Many fields do not hire people with a DUI on record for safety reasons. This includes jobs that require a commercial driver’s license (CDL), as well as positions that interact with children like teachers or daycare employees. It also includes government positions.
Housing discrimination
You could see more hurdles getting housing, too. Though it is illegal for landlords to discriminate against someone based on criminal history, this does not mean it never happens. In fact, it is quite common for a landlord to skip over an applicant just because they see a record, without even checking what the record is for.
Social stigma
The stigma of a DUI can also impact your social life. Depending on the crime committed, you could suffer from a damaged reputation that makes it difficult to continue living in your community, and you may feel like you need to move.
Thus, it is best to treat a DUI charge seriously from the start.
