Driving while intoxicated can lead to significant consequences. In Texas, you are legally impaired when your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08 or more, but you break the law as soon as the drugs or alcohol affects your driving. If the police have reasonable suspicion to stop you and they confirm you are legally intoxicated, you may face a DWI charge.
In addition to fines, imprisonment and the loss of your driver’s license, your job may be affected. Here is how this can happen.
The loss of a job
If your job involves driving, operating machinery or being in charge of those who do these things, you may lose it. The first reason is if your charge leads to the loss of your license. You can’t operate a vehicle without a valid license, which means you will be unable to work.
Further, if you go to jail upon conviction, which can be up to 180 days for the first offense, you can lose your job. Your employer will likely replace you, as they want to keep operations going.
In some instances, you may still lose your job even if you avoid jail or the loss of your license. Some employers don’t tolerate a DWI – they want to protect themselves from lawsuits. Thus, they may not accept someone who may pose a security concern to colleagues and other road users to operate their vehicles or machinery.
Limiting job opportunities
If your current employee terminates your employment, getting another job can be challenging, particularly one that involves driving or operating machinery. Nonetheless, you can get jobs that don’t require these skills.
If you are charged with a DWI, you need to fight to avoid a conviction. You should get legal help to protect your record.