The Legal Power Of Bauer

How a DWI can harm a young adult’s reputation

On Behalf of | May 14, 2022 | Criminal Defense, Drunk Driving |

There is no shame in making the most of your youth during your college years and your early days in the workforce. If the fun times get out of hand and you suddenly receive a DWI charge, however, there can be serious implications for your professional reputation.

The state of Minnesota takes impaired driving extremely seriously. Drinking while intoxicated will affect your public record, thereby creating the possibility to affect your education or future employment as well.

Your college career

Driving while intoxicated is a criminal offense from which an accredited university would prefer to distance itself. If your DWI charge does not result in an accident that injures another individual, however, your school is likely to place you under probation or suspension for a first offense. Subsequent offenses may be grounds for expulsion at the university’s discretion.

Your professional career

Because DWI charges appear on your public record, they will come up during an employer’s background check. Having a reputation of prior guilt of driving while intoxicated might sway a company’s opinion of you. This holds especially true if you are pursuing a career in teaching, nursing or any other field where you might be responsible for the health and safety of others.

One innocent lapse in judgment is all it can take to find yourself living with a DWI conviction hanging over your head. While a first-time offense will likely not close as many doors as you might think, it certainly serves as a heavy reminder of how choices affect your reputation.

FindLaw Network