If you are charged with drunk driving in Illinois, there are both criminal and administrative implications that affect your life right away. When you are arrested, police will confiscate your driver’s license and your driving privileges may be suspended by the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office Department of Driver Services. There are also criminal penalties because Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is against the law. Even if this is a first-time offense, you face probation, fines, or jail time.
Though these sanctions are considerable, there are additional consequences for your job. A drunk driving conviction can affect your career in ways that you do not expect. It is important to consult with a skilled Illinois DUI defense lawyer who can work to get the best possible outcome in your case. You should also review some of the ways a drunk driving conviction can impact your current employment and future opportunities.
Required Notice to Your Employer
Illinois regulates many driving-related occupations by requiring you to obtain a special driver’s license. In some situations, you must report a DUI conviction to your employer in order to keep your credentials in good standing. For example, if you hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or operate a vehicle for work, you must report a drunk driving arrest – even before you are convicted. Plus, your employer may have rules that require you to report a DUI, especially in sales or other jobs where you operate a company-owned car. Your employer has grounds to fire you if you can not perform job-related functions.
Other Professional Licenses
Illinois also regulates many other occupations that have nothing to do with driving. You must comply with these rules to keep your license, which may mean reporting a DUI to the appropriate state agency. The exact requirements depend upon your credentials. Generally, if it is inappropriate for you to work in a certain industry after being convicted of a crime, your license may be suspended or revoked. Physicians, nurses, airline, railroad and public transportation employees, public safety such as police and fire, and those in other occupations could be censured, sanctioned, or have a professional license to work in their given field suspended or revoked.
Practical Considerations for Your Job
Aside from licensing issues, not being able to legally drive has other consequences for your daily life. You may not be able to drive to and from work, work-related functions, or meetings with clients. Though there are multiple public transportation options in Chicago and surrounding counties, your inconvenience and costs incurred may be extreme. If you are required to install a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID) in your vehicle, you will have obvious, clunky equipment attached to your car’s steering column. If you entertain or transport clients, the BAIID can affect customer relationships and business opportunities.
Fight Drunk Driving Charges with the Help of an Illinois DUI Defense Attorney
There are harsh consequences for drunk driving in Illinois beyond the administrative and criminal penalties. Your career could be at stake, so you need experienced counsel to help protect your employment interests. For more information, please contact Glasgow & Olsson. You can schedule a consultation with one of our DUI defense attorneys by calling 847.577.8700 or completing a consultation request form.
(image courtesy of Charles Deluvio)