While DUI cases are significantly less common today than they were a decade ago, many people have a few drinks and think they are fine to drive, only to then be arrested for a DUI. While this is certainly a mistake, the question is this: is it worth running a person’s life over?
This is the question when you consider whether or not a person will receive a license to teach after being convicted of a DUI, or whether a teacher will lose their job after being arrested for a DUI. Keep reading to find out what California law says about this and then contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 for a free legal consultation.
There is No Law Preventing a Person from Becoming a Teacher Due to a DUI Conviction
Strictly speaking, there is no California law that makes it impossible for a teacher to get a teaching license due to a DUI conviction. That said, school districts both public and private generally conduct thorough background checks (including DUI record checks) before hiring a teacher. They might consider this conviction worthy of turning down someone for employment.
Teachers Are Required to Report the Conviction
When a teacher is already employed as a teacher during a DUI, they could potentially lose their job. In California, they are required to report their conviction to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing when they apply for a teaching credential or apply to renew their credential. The CTC will then review the facts and make a decision about whether the person in question should be issued a teaching license.
The Consequences of a DUI Conviction Could Prevent a Teacher from Working
Even if the state issues a teaching license and a school hires a teacher with a DUI, there are other consequences of the conviction that could prevent them from easily working. They could be on informal probation for up to five years, they could be required to go to up to nine months of DUI school, they could be required to pay thousands of dollars of fines, spend up to six months in jail, and have their driver’s license suspended for up to six months.
Do Not Plead Guilty to a DUI Charge without Talking to a Criminal Defense Attorney
If you have been charged with DUI, even if you failed a breathalyzer, admitted to having been drunk, and took a blood test that showed you were well over 0.08% BAC, it is always worth talking to a criminal defense attorney to find out what your options are. For example, the tests used to “convict” you might not have been administered correctly. Contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 for a free legal consultation.
