While many people don’t think about it, driving while intoxicated is a serious offense. Not only could you hurt yourself (or someone else), you could get into serious legal troubles. Personally, your life can also change.
Here are some ways that a DWI can change your life.
Criminal record. If you are convicted of a DWI, you are going to have a criminal record that is going to follow you around for the rest of your life. Even without all of the other things that may change, having a criminal record is a scary thing.
Loss of driver’s license. Most people feel like they can’t live without their license. They drive to work, school, and the store without thinking about it. Imagine how many times you will have to ask for rides to get to and from places if you lost your license for a month.
However, the minimum amount of time that you may lose your license is three months, though the amount of time grows each time you are convicted. Some people lose their license for several years, which can really affect their life!
Embarrassment. Being arrested and charged with a DWI is embarrassing, both to you and your family. You may end up losing some friends and family after a DWI arrest.
If you were in an accident, you may be embarrassed that you could have hurt someone seriously or even killed yourself. You may feel a lot of guilt if you did hurt someone else or cause damage.
Reputation. Your reputation is going to change. People are going to look at you differently. Because of this, you may lose your job or if you are looking at colleges, your application may be denied.
Trouble finding a job. If you were convicted of a DWI, you are going to have to tell any further employers that. Many won’t hire a criminal, even if it is just a DWI.
Commercial license lost. If you are caught drinking and driving, you will lose your job if you are a commercial driver. You may lose your license for up to three years, though if you are a repeat offender, you may never be able to drive commercially again.
Schools have no tolerance. Many schools require background checks before you are able to help around school and with sports. If you were convicted of a DWI, you may lose the privilege of visiting your child’s school.
Changes to insurances. Your automotive insurance can cancel you at any time, for a DWI. You may end up losing your life insurance policy. If not, your rates may go up or you might not be eligible to get life insurance if you don’t already have it.
Potential jail time. For your first offense, you could land in jail for up to ninety days. Each conviction gets longer. If you are convicted four or more times, it is considered a felony and you will be spending the next several years behind bars.
Big fine (that get bigger the more times you are pulled over). Fines start at one thousand dollars and they get steeper every time that you are pulled over.
Because your life can change in so many ways, it is essential that you hire a lawyer if you are arrested for a DWI. A lawyer will help you through this difficult time so that your life doesn’t have to change too much.
We will work with you to get your case dropped or if that is not possible, we will help you to come to an agreement that is better.
Contact us for all of your legal needs. We would be happy to discuss your case and options so that one mistake won’t change your life.
Disclaimer: The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.
