Last Updated on March 14, 2025
When most people consider the consequences of a DUI conviction, they only think about the immediate legal penalties. What they fail to take into account is how their life will change after a DUI conviction. When you look at the dramatic and devastating life changes you’ll likely go through after a conviction, it is easy to see how important it is to fight the charges. Here are a few consequences you may not have considered:
You Will have a Criminal Offense on Your Record
One of the biggest changes to expect after a DUI is that you will have a criminal conviction on your record. While employers and landlords in California cannot blanketly discriminate against those convicted of a crime, you still must disclose this information in some cases. For example, if you are applying for a job as an Uber driver, you must be honest when asked if you have had a DUI in the past, and employers are permitted to ask this question as it is relevant to the position.
Similarly, this information can cause you to be denied certain professional licenses, such as pilot or commercial driver’s licenses. Nurses, in particular, face potential suspension from the Nursing Board of their license and may have trouble getting licensed.
Even if you get the charge expunged from your record, this information will stay on your driving record for 10 years, so if you lie and say you have not had any DUIs, your employer or licensing body will likely still find out.
You’ll Have Less Time for Recreational Activities
A DUI conviction involves mandatory DUI classes, and you may be required to attend AA meetings or a Mothers Against Drunk Driving Victim Impact Panel. If your blood alcohol level was particularly high, you will need to take more classes, and you may be required to perform court-ordered community service, such as picking up trash on the side of the freeway. If you had an extremely high blood alcohol level, you may have to attend residential alcohol treatment.
All of these classes, panels, community service hours, and treatment programs add up, leaving you with a packed calendar even without any social engagements.
You’ll Have a Harder Time Getting Around
Before you get your license back, you’ll have to:
- Rely on friends and family members to give you rides (which could further harm your social life)
- Use public transportation (which will add substantial time to your commute, keeping you even more busy
- Pay for Ubers, Lyfts, or taxis to get around town (which can be very expensive)
If you get a restricted license, you can get to work, school, and DUI programs more easily, but you can only drive to a set number of pre-approved locations. If you want to go anywhere else, you’ll still have to rely on the options above or just stay home.
Your DUI could even prevent you from traveling to certain areas, as some countries, such as Canada, deny entry to anyone with a criminal offense on their record.
Your Personal Relationships May Suffer
Even if you don’t rely on your friends and family members to give you rides around town, a DUI could damage your relationship with friends and family members. Many people find DUIs to be inexcusably reckless and will lose respect for you if they find you have been convicted of driving under the influence. People are particularly likely to cut off a relationship with someone convicted of drunk driving if they have lost a friend or family member in a DUI accident.
Your Budget Will be a Lot Tighter
Aside from the court fines and legal fees, you may also have to pay for your DUI classes, alcohol counseling, and more. When you get your license back, you’ll be paying much higher insurance premiums since you will have to get an SR-22 policy, and you may have to pay to install and maintain an ignition interlock device as well.
Before you can drive again, you may miss work since it will be harder to get around, which could even cause you to lose your job. And if you pay for rideshares or taxis, you’ll be spending even more money trying to get where you need to go.
You’ll Have to Follow Your Probation
While the probation rules for those convicted of DUI are not as restrictive as the probation period for most crimes, you still have to follow the rules. DUI probation lasts three years for a misdemeanor offense and five years for a felony.
While each probation agreement is unique, one restriction always used in DUI cases is that you cannot drive with any measurable amount of alcohol in your system. If you are caught with alcohol in your system while driving (even if your BAC is below the standard 0.08% limit for California drivers), you could lose your license again and be charged with a probation violation.
Police Will Know You Have a Record
The police will automatically know you have a DUI whenever they look you up in their system. They check a person’s driver’s license as soon as they stop them for any traffic offense. If you are driving on a suspended license, your vehicle will be impounded for 30 days, and you will be charged with driving on a suspended license. If you are convicted, you could face jail time and have 2 points added to your driving record, meaning you will lose your license again since you already had 2 points from the DUI.
When you get your car back, you may also be required to install an ignition interlock breathalyzer device. DUI lawyers may be able to help you fight this consequence, but it is easier to avoid it altogether.
Your Military Career May be Affected
Members of the military who are convicted of a DUI will face additional non-judicial penalties (NJP) for their actions, which could even include dishonorable discharge. If you are not already in the military, a DUI will make you ineligible for enlistment without a waiver. While it is difficult for anyone to secure a waiver these days, those convicted of felonies or DUIs causing injury are particularly unlikely to secure waivers.
Your Immigration Status Could be Affected
Normally, DUIs will not affect your immigration status, but there are some circumstances where they can. If you are convicted multiple times for any criminal offense, you will be unable to re-enter the US after leaving. You could be deported if you had a child in the car when you were arrested, were caught driving under the influence of drugs, or were driving drunk with a suspended license. Additionally, Dreamers are subject to very strict rules, and a DUI could cause them to lose their protected immigration status.
Your Mental Health May Suffer
Many people who get DUIs already have substance abuse issues tied to mental health issues such as PTSD, depression, or bipolar disorder. Even those who don’t may suffer from depression after spending lengthy amounts of time at home while their license is suspended or struggling financially due to the financial costs of DUI.
Individuals whose intoxicated driving caused an auto accident are likely to suffer from PTSD or depression, especially if someone was hurt or killed as a result of their driving.
Remember that getting a DUI does not make you a bad person, but if your mental health declines after an arrest for driving under the influence, please seek professional therapy.
The problems associated with life after a DUI are pretty major, but they can be avoided if you successfully fight them. Skilled DUI attorney Peter M. Liss can help you. Call (760) 643-4050 today to schedule a free initial consultation.
