Can A DWI Cost Me My Job?

Can A DWI Cost Me My Job?

A Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) charge in Texas is not just a serious legal matter—it can also significantly disrupt your career and your future. If you’re facing a DWI in Texas, it is essential to understand how this offense can impact your employment, professional licensing, education, and long-term career prospects. At Mark Diaz & Associates, we frequently assist clients who face DWI charges, helping them understand and minimize the long-term consequences to their careers. While every situation is unique, one thing is consistent: the consequences of a DWI conviction often extend far beyond the courtroom.

A DWI charge can disrupt your employment in many ways, whether you hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL), a professional license, or work in certain regulated fields. Even for those whose jobs do not require a specialized license, a DWI conviction can lead to significant hurdles in obtaining or retaining employment. Under Texas Penal Code § 49.04, driving while intoxicated is considered a serious offense that can carry lasting implications for your professional life.

Impact On Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Holders

If you hold a CDL in Texas, a DWI charge can immediately threaten your livelihood. According to Texas Transportation Code § 522.081, any CDL holder who is convicted of a DWI offense—even while driving a personal vehicle—faces severe penalties, including:

• One-Year Suspension of CDL: A first offense can result in a CDL suspension for a minimum of one year. This suspension means the inability to legally operate commercial vehicles, directly impacting your income and career prospects.
• Lifetime Disqualification: If you receive a second DWI conviction, Texas law can permanently revoke your CDL. This revocation effectively ends your commercial driving career.

CDL holders face these strict penalties due to the heightened safety responsibilities associated with operating large commercial vehicles. Employers are unlikely to retain drivers with suspended or revoked licenses because of liability and insurance concerns. Thus, a DWI charge can swiftly end a CDL holder’s career.

Consequences For Professional License Holders

Many professional fields in Texas require specific licensing, including healthcare, law, teaching, real estate, and finance. A DWI conviction can trigger mandatory reporting to state licensing boards, possibly resulting in disciplinary actions, including license suspension or revocation.

For example, the Texas Medical Board (TMB) mandates disclosure of any criminal conviction, including DWI charges. According to Texas Occupations Code § 164.051, a physician’s license may be suspended or revoked if the board determines that substance abuse poses a risk to patient safety.

Similarly, nurses, attorneys, and educators must disclose DWI convictions to their respective licensing boards, potentially jeopardizing their professional licenses. License holders might be required to attend substance abuse counseling or rehabilitation programs as part of disciplinary measures.

Employment Implications For Non-Licensed Professionals

Even without holding a specific professional license, a DWI conviction can significantly impact your career prospects. Many employers routinely conduct background checks during hiring processes. A criminal record, including a misdemeanor DWI conviction, could disqualify you from employment or promotion opportunities.

Certain sectors, such as government positions, security jobs, or roles requiring security clearance, take DWI convictions especially seriously. Employers may perceive a DWI conviction as indicative of poor judgment or unreliability, negatively affecting your job stability.

DWI And Educational Opportunities

A DWI conviction can also create hurdles in education. If you’re currently enrolled or planning to enroll in higher education, you should know that universities and colleges often require criminal background checks for admissions or specific programs—particularly in healthcare or education fields. A DWI conviction might result in denial of admission, loss of scholarships, or disqualification from participating in certain internships or professional placements.

Financial Consequences Linked To Your Job

Beyond losing job opportunities, a DWI conviction can also have immediate financial repercussions, including:

• Increased car insurance premiums, often doubling or even tripling the standard rate.
• Court fees, fines, and costs associated with mandated counseling programs.
• Expenses from alternative transportation due to suspended driving privileges.
• Possible loss of income due to missed workdays during court proceedings, probation, or incarceration periods.

These expenses add stress and financial pressure, compounding the difficulty of maintaining stable employment or securing new job opportunities.

Protecting Your Career After A DWI Charge

When you’re charged with a DWI, acting quickly is essential. Texas provides limited opportunities for minimizing the impact of a DWI on your criminal record and professional life. Under certain circumstances, first-time offenders may petition for non-disclosure orders under Texas Government Code § 411.072, which can seal a DWI conviction from public view after completing probation and other court requirements.

Hiring an experienced DWI defense attorney immediately after arrest is crucial. We can evaluate the strength of the state’s evidence, challenge procedural mistakes made by law enforcement, and explore possible options for plea agreements or alternative sentencing programs to minimize the impact on your career.

FAQs About DWI And Employment Consequences In Texas

Can A DWI Lead To Immediate Job Loss?

Yes, in certain occupations—especially those requiring professional licensing or a CDL—immediate job loss or suspension is possible following a DWI arrest or conviction. Employers often have policies outlining zero tolerance for criminal convictions related to substance abuse, particularly when public safety is involved.

Does A DWI Affect My Ability To Pass Background Checks?

Absolutely. A DWI conviction remains on your criminal record permanently unless it is expunged or sealed through specific legal processes. Most employers conduct criminal background checks, and a DWI conviction can seriously hinder your ability to pass these checks successfully.

How Does A DWI Conviction Impact My CDL?

A first-time DWI conviction typically leads to at least a one-year CDL suspension under Texas law (Texas Transportation Code § 522.081). Any subsequent conviction could permanently revoke your CDL, making it impossible to legally drive commercial vehicles for a living.

What Happens To My Professional License After A DWI?

Depending on your profession, a DWI conviction could result in disciplinary action from licensing boards, including probation, mandatory counseling, suspension, or even revocation of your professional license. Each board has discretion regarding discipline severity based on factors like prior history and circumstances of the offense.

Can I Get A DWI Conviction Removed From My Record In Texas?

Texas law allows limited options for removing a DWI from your record. Expunction is only available if your charges are dismissed or you are acquitted. Non-disclosure orders (sealing records) may be possible for certain first-time offenses, provided specific legal conditions and waiting periods are met.

Does A DWI Affect My Chances Of Getting Into College Or Graduate School?

A DWI conviction can negatively impact educational prospects. Many institutions require criminal background checks, and a DWI might disqualify you from specific programs, scholarships, internships, or placements—especially those involving healthcare, education, or positions of trust.

Can I Still Work In Healthcare After A DWI?

It is possible but complicated. Healthcare licensing boards in Texas often require disclosure of criminal convictions. If allowed to continue working, you may face probationary conditions, mandatory rehabilitation programs, or periodic drug and alcohol testing.

Will A DWI Affect Employment In Government Or Security Fields?

Yes. Positions within government agencies or those requiring security clearances often have strict guidelines about criminal convictions, including DWI charges. A conviction can disqualify you from employment or revoke your existing clearance, significantly affecting your career path.

What Steps Can I Take Immediately After Being Charged With A DWI?

Immediately contacting an experienced DWI attorney is critical. We can provide legal guidance, represent you in court, protect your rights, challenge the state’s evidence, and seek the best possible outcome to minimize the impact on your professional future.

How Long Does a DWI Stay on My Driving Record in Texas?

A DWI conviction is permenent on your criminal record unless sealed or expunged, but it remains on your driving record typically for life. This can affect insurance rates and future employment opportunities that require driving.

Will My Insurance Company Drop Me After a DWI Conviction?

Many insurance providers will not immediately drop you, but they will likely increase your rates substantially due to the perceived risk. Some companies may refuse to renew your policy, forcing you to seek coverage from higher-risk insurers at significantly higher premiums.

Can I Travel Internationally With a DWI Conviction?

International travel can be impacted by a DWI conviction. Some countries, including Canada, have strict entry rules and may deny entry to travelers with a recent DWI conviction. It’s essential to research entry restrictions for each country you plan to visit.

If My License Is Suspended Due to a DWI, Can I Get a Temporary Permit for Work?

Yes. Under certain circumstances, Texas allows individuals with a suspended driver’s license to request what is called an occupational driver’s license (ODL) to drive legally to work, school, or essential household tasks. Obtaining an ODL requires filing a petition with the court and meeting specific eligibility requirements (Texas Transportation Code § 521.242).

Can I Refuse a Breathalyzer or Blood Test During a DWI Stop?

While you can refuse, Texas employs “implied consent” laws under Texas Transportation Code § 724.011. Refusal typically results in an automatic administrative license suspension of 180 days for the first refusal and up to two years for subsequent refusals, however, your attorney can request a hearing and challenge the suspension. Additionally, prosecutors may use your refusal as evidence against you in court.

Is It Possible to Plead to a Lesser Charge Than DWI in Texas?

In some cases, it may be possible to negotiate with prosecutors to reduce a DWI charge to a lesser offense, such as reckless driving or obstruction of a highway. Such outcomes depend heavily on case specifics, evidence strength, and the skill of your defense attorney.

Call Mark Diaz & Associates For A Strong DWI Defense

At Mark Diaz & Associates, we understand how stressful and overwhelming a DWI charge can be, especially considering its impact on your career. Our attorneys have years of experience handling DWI cases in Galveston and throughout Houston. We provide vigorous legal representation tailored specifically to your needs, aiming to protect your career and future.

Do not wait until your career is compromised by a conviction. Contact our Galveston DWI defense lawyers at Mark Diaz & Associates by calling 409-515-6170 to receive your free consultation. We represent clients from our office in Galveston and throughout Houston, Texas, offering strategic, experienced legal counsel to help you achieve the best possible outcome in your DWI case.