As a trucker, you probably know the rules of the road better than most drivers, and this means you know that drinking and driving is not only dangerous, but it’s also illegal. Unfortunately, many truckers take a chance every single day on the roads of America when they choose to drink and drive, but many of these same truckers don’t realize that the consequences of doing so can have a much bigger impact than they might anticipate.
Don’t drink and drive!
Your Job
Because you drive a truck for a living, you need your driver’s license – however, after you’ve been convicted of a DUI, the chances of you being able to keep your license to drive are slim. In the overwhelming majority of DUI convictions, one of the penalties is the loss of a driver’s license for at least a year. Whether it is a dui attorney Charlotte NC firm or a Washington DC lawyer, they’re going to tell you that if you’ve been convicted of a DUI in the past, another DUI may mean the loss of your license for multiple years. This means that you won’t be able to get around, and more importantly, you won’t be able to work.
Your Finances
Because you won’t be able to work, your finances will probably also take a hit. On top of that, you may be facing thousands of dollars in fines and fees after your conviction, and because you won’t be able to drive a truck anymore, you won’t have an income, making these financial hardships even more difficult to deal with. Once you do get your license to drive back, you’ll also be expected to pay much higher premiums for your auto insurance.
Your Criminal Record
Being convicted of a DUI also means that you’ll have a criminal record, and this can affect you and your family in many ways. After your conviction, it will be harder to find a job, especially in the trucking industry. Most trucking companies will be reluctant to hire a driver with a DUI conviction on his or her record, even if the DUI occurred many years ago and the driver has a lot of experience. In addition, some apartment complexes and home rental companies will refuse to rent to a person with a criminal record, meaning you and your family may find yourself without a place to live if you’re in one of these dwellings.
Your Time
You should also keep in mind that receiving a DUI can take up a lot of your time. First, you’ll be arrested and taken to jail. Once there, you will have to wait until you can be arraigned, and at that point, you may be offered bail. If you’re not offered bail, you’ll have to wait in jail until your court date, and that could be weeks or months down the road. Once your court date arrives, it may then be pushed back for a variety of reasons, and you could end up having to go back and forth to court multiple times. In addition, if you’re convicted, you’ll also have to attend state-sanctioned alcohol education classes.
The best way to avoid a DUI? Don’t drink and drive. As a trucker, it’s also important to remember that while you’re on the job, regular blood alcohol standards don’t apply to you, so it’s always best to simply avoid alcohol altogether if you’re going to be driving your rig anytime in the next 24 hours.
Georgina Clatworthy formerly worked within the fleet maintenance department for a large distribution company and knows the implications any conviction can have on truck drivers. The dui attorney Charlotte NC-based firm of Powers McCartan, PLLC has extensive experience dealing with driving under the influence charges and can help build a defense aimed at reducing or even discharging the strongest of cases.
