DUI Convictions Can Disqualify You from Many Jobs

 Posted on February 09, 2024 in DUI

Utah punishes DUI offenders harshly. What many people fail to realize is that even after serving time or paying a hefty fine, a DUI conviction can affect your ability to keep or find work. Even a single DUI conviction, with no prior record, can result in a person having trouble securing employment.

Understandably, it is important for you to take the necessary steps to avoid a DUI conviction. If you have been charged with a DUI, our Salt Lake City DUI defense attorneys want to hear from you.

Utah’s DUI Statistics

For Fiscal Year 2022, the Beehive State experienced the following:

• 10,413 DUI arrests
• 74% of arrestees were male
• 37% of arrestees were between the ages of 25-36 
• 71% of arrestees were first-time offenders
• 13% of arrestees refused to take a blood alcohol test

Applying for a Job with a DUI Conviction

As part of the application process, employers conduct a background check on potential employees. Along with the previous schools you attended and your previous jobs, your credit report, driving records, and criminal history will also be visible. This will include not only convictions but arrests, even if you end up not being charged.

According to Utah Code §34-52-201, a public employer is not allowed to disqualify a potential employee due to a past criminal conviction. Even though a DUI conviction does not automatically take an employee out of the running, some positions may require that you have no recent convictions.

Commercial Truck Drivers

Utah law prohibits a CDL driver from driving a commercial truck for one year if you receive a DUI. Some trucking companies may have their own rules, requiring that your DUI is 5-7 years old before they will consider hiring you. Additionally, your commercial driver’s license (CDL) may be suspended after a DUI conviction.

How a DUI Can Impact Professional Licensure

A DUI conviction may result in the suspension or revocation of your professional license. While these professions require you to obtain licensure to begin working in your chosen field, you will likely be required to periodically renew your license. Even if your record was expunged or sealed, you will likely need to disclose the conviction when applying for license renewal.

Utah’s Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) offers 60 categories of licensing. Although an applicant is not automatically denied a license based on a criminal conviction, licensure denial may occur if the crime directly correlates with the individual’s ability to complete his or her job.

The decision to deny or approve a professional license is subjective, and having a Davis County DUI defense attorney advocating on your behalf can help protect your future employment prospects.

Ready to Schedule Your Consultation with a Salt Lake City, UT, DUI Defense Attorney?

If you have been discriminated against because of a DUI conviction, do not hesitate to contact us. Our Davis County, UT, DUI defense attorneys are ready to advocate on your behalf. Contact Collins Rupp, P.C. today online or by calling 385-777-2753 to schedule your free consultation.