Minimizing the Effects of a Drunk Driving Conviction

Probation, incarceration, driver's license suspension, mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device, alcohol screening and counseling, mandated educational courses, court fines and community service all can be effects of drunk driving. If you have recently received a DUI charge, you are not alone. Because the legal limit for blood alcohol level while driving is so low (.08% for adults and .02% for individuals under the age of 21), you may get charged with a DUI due to driving after only having one or two drinks. You may not even feel the effects of the alcohol, yet you can still be convicted of a DUI and suffer the many penalties.

Minimizing the Effects of a Drunk Driving Conviction

A criminal conviction can have far reaching consequences on you for the rest of your life. When you go to apply for a new job or to rent a home or apartment, the employer or landlord may conduct a background check and discover your history. Because landlords will favor a tenant with no criminal background and employers will favor employees who abide the law, you may find it exceedingly difficult to procure work and housing.

There are things you can do to minimize the negative effects of a drunk driving conviction. Which steps to take in your case will depend on what type of crime you were charged with (was it a felony or misdemeanor) and the jurisdiction in which you reside. Some of the potential actions people with drunk driving convictions can take to minimize the effects of their conviction include:

• Retain a criminal defense attorney to handle your case on your behalf.
• If you have already been convicted, talk to a defense attorney about the process for expungement or rehabilitation or pardon, depending on your jurisdiction.
• Review your record of arrest for impropriety, such as lack of reasonable suspicion for being pulled over.

Getting Legal Advice

A drunk driving charge could have life changing consequences. Fines and incarceration are only a few of the penalties you may soon face. Having an experienced defense attorney on your side is the best way to minimize negative outcomes. An experienced attorney will be able to analyze your case and assess the strengths and weaknesses within in. Your attorney may have suggestions about your defense that you had not considered.