A DUI conviction can create a great deal of turmoil in your life. You may be facing substantial fines, community service, jail time, vehicle impoundment, the loss of your driver's license, or a stint in court ordered rehab. On top of these concerns, you will also need to consider how your conviction will affect your employment.

DUI Convictions and Current Employment

While your current employer can't randomly pull your driving record without your permission, this doesn't mean he won't find out about your DUI conviction from other sources. Convictions may appear in the courthouse listings section of the local newspaper or be publicized if they occurred as the result of a serious traffic accident. If you're been taking personal calls relating to your DWI at work or using your company email account to conduct business with your DUI lawyer, your employer may find out about your conviction this way.

And in some states, such as California, if your employment requires a safe driving record, your employer will be notified when your drivers license is pulled (suspended or revoked).

Can you be fired for drunk driving? If your job requires you to drive and you no longer have a driver's license, you may be dismissed or moved into a different position. If your job does not require you to drive, you could still find your position terminated if your contact has a morality clause or your job requires a great deal of public contact. For example, there have been cases where teachers or high ranking government officials have found themselves unemployed after a DUI conviction.

Looking for a New Job with a DUI Conviction

If you're looking for a new job that involves driving in some capacity, you can expect that your potential employer will ask to see your driving record as part of the pre-employment background check. You will need to sign a form to give him permission to look at your records, however. A DWI conviction may or may not affect your chances at getting the job, depending upon the company's policy and how long ago the conviction occurred.

Even if your profession does not involve driving, an employment application may ask if you've ever been convicted of a felony. While a first time DUI is generally a misdemeanor, repeated DUI convictions or those which involved a serious accident are often felony charges. If your DUI is considered a felony, do not lie on your employment application. Your employer will have the legal right to terminate your position if he finds out that you've been dishonest during the hiring process.