While DUI cases are far less common today than they were a decade ago, many people take a few drinks and believe they are safe to drive, only to be arrested for DUI later. If you have been convicted of or charged with a DUI, you might wonder how it could affect your personal life.
Today we will discuss how a DUI conviction can affect a person’s ability to get a teaching license in California. If you have questions about other professional licensing and how DUIs affect them, contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 to speak to a Whittier DUI attorney today.
There is no law that prevents a person from becoming a teacher if they have been convicted of DUI
A DUI conviction does not, strictly speaking, make it impossible for a teacher to obtain a teaching license in California. However, before employing a teacher, both public and private school systems perform rigorous background checks (including DUI records checks). They might think this conviction is enough to bar someone from getting a job.
Convictions must be reported by teachers
If a teacher is already employed as a teacher when they are arrested for DUI, they may lose their employment. When they apply for a teaching credential or renew their certificate in California, they must declare their conviction to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. After reviewing the circumstances, the CTC will decide whether or not the person in question should be granted a teaching license.
A DUI conviction could make it impossible for a teacher to work
Even if the state gives a teaching license and a school hires a teacher with a DUI, the conviction may have other ramifications that make it difficult for them to work. They could be placed on informal probation for up to five years, ordered to attend up to nine months of DUI school, fined thousands of dollars, spend up to six months in jail, and have their driver’s license suspended for up to six months.
Do not enter a guilty plea to a DUI charge without first consulting with a Whittier DUI attorney
Even if you failed a breathalyzer, admitted to being intoxicated, and did a blood test that indicated you were well over 0.08 percent BAC, it is always worth speaking with a Whittier DUI attorney to find out what your options are if you have been charged with DUI. The tests used to “convict” you, for example, may not have been administered accurately. For a free legal consultation, call Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088.
