DWI Convictions Affect Employment In Limited Ways
Will a DWI conviction affect employment?
The good news is that a DWI in New Jersey is a traffic offense.
While the majority of other states classifies DWIs as “crimes”, it is not so in NJ.
However, once you get a DWI on your driving record, you can never get it off your record.
Your DWI conviction stays on your record forever.
Do you drive for a living?
A DWI conviction in New Jersey is not a criminal offense.
Therefore, if your employer is performing a criminal background check, your DWI conviction should not appear.
Now, if you drive for a living, then your employer may require that you “self-report” any DWI arrest and/or conviction.
For example, UBER & LYFT drivers are required to notify their employers about their DWI.
Will a DWI Conviction Affect My commercial driver’s license (CDL)?
If you depend on your CDL to make a living, you will definitely face the possibility of losing your job.
Employers who depend on drivers with CDLs have no tolerance for drivers who get DWI convictions.
To repeat, a DWI in New Jersey is not a criminal offense but employers who learn that their drivers were found guilty of a DWI have no obligation to continue offering employment.
In short, if you have a CDL and get convicted for DWI, you’re probably going to lose your job.
What if i don’t drive for a living?
Chances are good that your employer will never find out about your DWI conviction.
Since your employment does not depend on you being a “responsible driver”, there’s no reason for an employer to care about your driving record.
A driver’s license suspension can occur for many reasons.
For example, you may incur a license suspension for speeding or careless driving.
An employer may learn that you lost your driving privileges but may never know (or care) the reason for it.
Almost anyone can get a “First DWI”
As New Jersey DWI lawyers, we know that people from all walks of life can get a “First DWI”.
We’re not saying that it’s cool to get a DWI, but it’s more common than ever.
The legal limit is very low and it only takes two glasses of wine to put a 150 lb person over the limit.
Our DWI clients include doctors, soccer moms, stockbrokers, nurses and everything in between.
your DWI conviction May Not Affect Employment if you are honest about it
Employers hate liars more than they hate people with a DWI conviction.
Life happens, people make mistakes, and people pay for their mistakes.
If your employer discovers your DWI conviction and questions you about it, be truthful.
Own it, apologize and move on.
A mature employer probably knows a close friend or family member who got a DWI conviction and won’t judge you for it.
If anything, he/she will be impressed with your honesty!
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About the Author
Attorney At Law
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201-766-4800
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200 Passaic St. Hackensack, NJ 07601
Mr. Peyrouton is a Criminal Defense Attorney located in Hackensack, NJ.
His articles in the areas of Criminal Law have been published in The New Jersey Law Journal.
He is a distinguished author, trial attorney, and has had the privilege of arguing before the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Peyrouton was a world-class, competitive tennis player.
He is perfectly fluent in Spanish.
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