People in Michigan who drive with chemically impaired ability or with an elevated blood alcohol concentration (BAC) are at risk of criminal prosecution. Motorists who drive after drinking could potentially face operating while intoxicated (OWI) charges.
Those accused of impaired driving sometimes want the most expedient solution. They may consider pleading guilty as a way of settling the matter as quickly as possible. What they may have failed to consider is that pleading guilty results in criminal penalties and a criminal record.
Not only do OWI defendants who plead guilty need to worry about what consequences the courts might impose, but they also have to consider the possibility that they could face career setbacks because of the criminal offense related to drunk driving.
By making them miss work
People sentenced to incarceration could miss weeks of work. Some employers are flexible when workers miss extended periods of time due to criminal issues. Others are not nearly so lenient. Missing work can result in professionals losing their jobs or noticing a rapid deceleration of their career development. Losing a driver’s license could also potentially lead to an employee missing work if they do not have a reliable alternative to get them to their place of work every day on time.
By creating a criminal record
Some employers have strong policies about criminal records. They may screen out individuals with significant criminal convictions when hiring or may consider criminal records when making determinations about who to promote within the company. Even if workers don’t tell their employers about their OWI convictions, their records could come to light when they eventually apply for promotions.
By affecting licensing
Many professionals need a license to do their job. Some careers require driving. A first OWI conviction can cost someone their driver’s license for up to 180 days or a year if they have exceptionally high blood alcohol levels. Professionals may need to maintain a personal driver’s license or a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Those with recent OWI convictions are usually at least temporarily ineligible for a CDL. Records of criminal convictions can also affect other kinds of professional licensing. The boards that oversee accountants, medical professionals and others may take disciplinary actions against those convicted while holding a license or may refuse to issue or renew a license to a professional with a conviction.
The decision to fight pending OWI charges can help people protect not just their freedom but also their careers. A successful defense strategy can help professionals maintain their positions and limit the collateral consequences of a recent arrest.