How can a DUI affect my career in Rhode Island?

How can a DUI affect my career in Rhode Island?

Getting a DUI for the first time can be a really stressful and taxing experience. You may feel really tense because you never had to deal with cops pulling you over, being booked, arrested, and having to go to court. Most people think about the short-term consequences like paying fines, having their license suspended, possibly having to install an ignition interlock in your car, potentially facing jail time, etc. Something that you may not think about is the long-term effects of having a DUI on your record and how it can affect your future chances of landing a job.

Are there laws preventing me from getting certain jobs because of a DUI in Rhode Island?

No, there aren’t any specific types of laws preventing employers in Rhode Island from hiring someone just because they have a DUI on their record. This leaves it up to the specific employer and their policies and regulations on whether or not they will hire you or seek to terminate you as a result of a DUI. Some employers may not want their employees to have a criminal conviction on their record, others may want you to have a clean driving record if the job involves some sort of driving. In the eyes of an employer, it may pose a risk to hire or maintain employment for someone with a DUI conviction.

Having a DUI will make your job search significantly harder since the employer may perform a background check and your DUI conviction likely would appear on your criminal record. Although employers will likely look at your qualifications for the job, they can take your criminal background and potentially your driving record into consideration in the hiring process.

Which jobs can be problematic to land, having a DUI In Rhode Island?

Even though there isn’t a particular law that prevents people that have a DUI from getting a job, the consequences of having a DUI may cause a ripple effect that will make your chances of getting or maintaining a job significantly harder.

  1. Driving jobs:

    If you’re a truck driver, you need a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) to do your job. Having a DUI may cause you to have a license suspension, which can directly affect your ability to work. Also, CDL drivers have different standards than regular drivers. In Rhode Island, you are legally impaired when your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is equal or over 0.08%, whereas with CDL drivers, you can be held to a higher standard of a BAC of 0.04%.

    Besides the regular fines and penalties from a DUI, CDL drivers may face the revocation of their CDL, up to one year. If the person with a CDL then gets another DUI after having a previous conviction for DUI, their CDL can be permanently suspended.

    It is important to know that CDL employers have their own policies about DUIs and you may face immediate termination from your employment by getting a DUI. If you are not terminated, working may be difficult if you’re convicted since your CDL license will be suspended.

  2. Jobs that involve children:

    Teachers, school bus drivers, and childcare providers may have a difficult time either getting or keeping their jobs since there are constant background checks and employers tend to be extremely strict with workers to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children. If you are seeking a job where you will work with children, it is possible that a DUI could prevent you from getting the job.

  3. Government jobs:

    Many people who have government jobs are expected to have and maintain clean records. This is especially true for employees who are a part of the military, police officers, or government employees who deal with sensitive information. There can be strict policies for people in these positions, and it is possible a DUI conviction could prevent you from getting this job.

  4. Jobs that require a Professional License:

    People who have a license to practice in a specific professional area can have long-term repercussions from a DUI conviction. Each specific professional license has their own standards and reporting based on whether you get a DUI or other criminal charge. It could mean that you will face some sort of repercussions on your professional license if you receive a DUI. If you face a sanction on your professional license, you may not be able to work in that field at all.

Do I have to disclose my DUI to an employer in Rhode Island?

Whether or not you have to disclose a DUI conviction to an employer is truly a case by case question. It depends on whether your employer has mandatory self-reporting requirements based on getting a DUI. They could also have self-reporting requirements based on any criminal charge you receive. If the DUI could affect your professional license or CDL, there is likely a self reporting requirement in your employer agreement.

Contacting a DUI Lawyer in Rhode Island

If you ever get a DUI charge you will need a skillful DUI lawyer that will help you to contest the charges like the lawyers at Ellison Law LLC. Seek our guidance by contacting us through our website or call us at 401-230-5520.

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