If you have been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in Arizona, do you need to worry about losing your job? Unfortunately, for many people, the answer is “Yes.” This is one of several potential consequences of a DUI conviction in Arizona, and it can prove to be the single most costly consequence in many cases.
Understanding the Potential Employment-Related Consequences of a DUI
Here is an overview of what you need to know about the potential employment-related consequences of a DUI in Arizona:
Arizona is an “At Will” Employment State
Arizona is an “at will” employment state. This means that, unless you have an employment contract, your employer can fire you for any lawful reason at any time.
Generally speaking, a DUI is a lawful reason for terminating an employee’s position. From an employer’s perspective, an employee’s DUI can:
- Reflect poorly on the company’s trustworthiness and reputation;
- Reflect poorly on the employee’s judgment; and/or,
- Interfere with the employee’s ability to perform his or her job duties (i.e., if the employee drives for work).
To be clear, you do not need to drive for a living in order to be at risk of losing your job for a DUI. If your employer decides that it is not in the company’s or organization’s best interests to keep you on its payroll, it can terminate your employment based on your DUI arrest.
With that said, your employer cannot use your DUI as an excuse to fire you for other reasons. This includes using your DUI as a pretext for firing you on a discriminatory basis. If other employees have gotten DUIs and kept their jobs, and if you feel that you are targeted because of your race, nationality, or any other protected characteristic, it might be worth talking to an employment attorney about your legal rights.
You Might Be Required to Disclose Your DUI (and You Might Be at Increased Risk of Getting Fired if You Don’t)
Many employers require their employees to disclose any arrests or convictions occurring during their employment. If you are required to disclose your DUI, failing to do so could increase your risk of being fired—if your employer does not have a strict no-DUI policy. Employers can find out about their employees’ DUIs through various means, and hoping that your employer won’t find out about your DUI could prove to be a risky (and costly) choice.
A DUI Conviction Can Impact Your Future Employment Prospects
Not only can you lose your job as a result of a DUI in Arizona, but having a drunk driving conviction on your record can also negatively impact your future employment prospects. Going forward, your DUI conviction will show up on background checks, and prospective employers will be able to consider your DUI when deciding whether to extend an employment offer.
Just as many employers will fire employees who get DUIs, many employers will refuse to hire job applicants who have a DUI on their record. As a result, you could find landing a job extremely difficult—especially in well-paying occupations.
DUIs Can Lead to Disciplinary Action for Licensed Professionals
Finding a job in the future could be even more difficult if you have a professional license. In many professions, being arrested for DUI can trigger disciplinary action—up to and including suspension or revocation. If you lose your professional license, even temporarily, this could have drastic consequences for your future employment prospects as well.
Understanding the Other Financial Consequences of a DUI Conviction in Arizona
Along with (potentially) losing your job and facing limited employment prospects in the future, a DUI conviction can have other financial consequences as well. Some of the other costs associated with a DUI conviction in Arizona include:
- Thousands of dollars in fines, costs, and surcharges
- Alcohol screening, education, and treatment fees
- Vehicle impound and driver’s license reinstatement fees
- Ignition interlock device (IID) installation and monitoring fees
- Increased auto insurance premiums costing you thousands of dollars per year
Losing your driver’s license will also mean that you need to find (and potentially pay for) a different way to get where you need to go. Military service members, students, and non-U.S. citizens can potentially face additional consequences (and associated costs) as well.
Fighting to Avoid Serious Financial Consequences After a DUI Arrest
With all of these potential costs in mind, what can (and should) you do to fight your DUI in Arizona?
While there are several ways to fight a DUI in Arizona, you need to identify the specific defenses that apply under the facts and circumstances of your case. You also need to be able to assert these defenses effectively. Both of these require experienced legal representation. Once you hire an experienced Phoenix DUI defense attorney to represent you, your attorney will be able to evaluate the applicability of potential defenses such as:
- Challenging your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reading
- Challenging your field sobriety test (FST) results
- Challenging the basis for your traffic stop or arrest
- Exposing a violation of your Miranda rights
- Exposing other flaws in the prosecution’s case against you
These are just examples. Even if you got caught driving drunk, there may still be a variety of defenses that an experienced attorney can assert on your behalf. With the substantial costs you are facing, you owe it to yourself to ensure that you are fighting your DUI by all means available. Negotiating a plea bargain may be an option in your case as well; and, even if this means pleading guilty to a lesser charge, hiring an attorney to help you secure a favorable deal will still be well worth it in the long term.
