You were found guilty of drunk driving and now have to face penalties like a driver’s license suspension, probation, fines, and community service. Given all of this, will a DUI conviction also negatively impact your job search?
It could. A DUI arrest and subsequent conviction could negatively impact your pursuit of employment. For example, the following are some jobs that you may not qualify for because of a past DUI charge:
- Uber or Lyft driver,
- company driver,
- teacher,
- medical professional, and
- member of the military.
1. Will a past DUI negatively interfere with a driving job?
It might. A DUI conviction could result in your inability to secure a job that involves driving.
For example, both Uber and Lyft prohibit you from driving for their companies if you were convicted of a DUI within the last seven years of your job application.1
Further, most state laws say that you are disqualified from receiving a commercial driver’s license (CDL) for a certain period of time after getting convicted of DUI/DWI. This means you might not get a job as a truck driver or bus driver.2
Note that a DUI generally has a negative impact on your driving record. As a result, a drunk driving conviction could even prevent you from working as a delivery driver.
2. Can a DUI make it difficult to obtain a professional license?
Maybe, depending on the facts of your case and the license you are applying for.
Many state licensing boards say that they can deny you from receiving a professional license if you have a past conviction for a criminal offense (including a DUI offense). This is usually true provided that the conviction:
- was within the past seven years of your job application, and
- is substantially related to the duties of the profession that you are trying to enter into.3
This means that a DUI could prevent you from getting a job as a:
- teacher,
- doctor or healthcare professional,
- real estate agent, or
- contractor.
3. What about a job in law enforcement or the military?
A past misdemeanor DUI or felony DUI could prevent job prospects from getting a job in the military or with a law enforcement agency.
Note that there is no general rule that says you cannot enter the military or become a police officer because of a DUI record.
However, DUI offenders may have difficulty serving in the military or in a law enforcement capacity depending on the specific role they wish to serve.
For example, many military and law enforcement-related jobs require you to obtain a security clearance. If the facts of your DUI case prevent you from getting one, then an agency or the government could deny your job application.4
4. How long does a DUI conviction remain on your criminal record?
Most jurisdictions say that a DUI conviction will remain on your criminal history for the rest of your life.
One result is that a potential employer may learn of your DUI during your application process if the employer conducts a background check.
This means an employer might take a DUI offense into consideration before extending a job prospect an offer of employment.5
5. Will an expungement or record seal help?
Yes. If successful, the expungement process typically results in a court order that says your record involving a conviction must get destroyed.6
Some states offer record seals in lieu of expungements.
The main difference between the two is that a record seal does not result in the destruction of your record. Rather, the record gets hidden from most people and entities.7
Note that if a record is expunged or sealed, you do not have to disclose it:
- on a job application, or
- during a job interview.
Legal References:
- See, for example, Uber’s Zero Tolerance Policy.
- See, for example, Washington State Department of Licensing’s website, “CDL disqualifications: Conviction in court of driving any motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs” (while a first offense DUI results in a one-year disqualification for a CDL, a second or subsequent conviction could result in a lifetime disqualification for a CDL).
- See, for example, California Department of Real Estate (DRE) FAQs regarding criminal charges, criminal records, and criminal background checks.
- Note that the main federal law governing security clearances and the handling of confidential information is 50 U.S. Code 3341.
- Note, though, that many state ban the box laws prevent employers from inquiring into your criminal history before making a conditional offer of employment.
- Black’s Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition – “Expungement of record.”
- Compare, for example, Florida Statutes 943.0585 (authorizing the destruction of expunged criminal records) and Nevada Revised Statutes 179.247 (discussing the effects of a sealed record).
