A DUI conviction can have major repercussions on your future.
The state of California punishes the crime of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs harshly. Anyone convicted of this offense may be sentenced to jail time, probation, community service, mandatory DUI school, and fines. In addition, a DUI will also lead to a suspension of a California driver’s license for an extended period of time.
While these penalties are severe, there are other consequences that may arise from a DUI that many people do not consider. For anyone planning to attend college, graduate or professional school, this may include difficulty being accepted at the school of their choice or obtaining financial aid.
As a San Bernardino DUI defense attorney can explain, colleges and universities generally require prospective students to disclose criminal arrests or convictions on their applications. Depending on how the question is worded, this may include misdemeanor or felony DUI offenses.
If you have one DUI conviction, a college or university may still admit you as a student, if there were no special circumstances in the case. The school may impose conditions on your admission, such as requiring drug and alcohol counseling. However, if you have multiple DUI convictions, or if your DUI conviction had aggravating factors (for example, if you were driving at excessive speeds or had a particularly high blood alcohol content), then your application may be denied.
One of the most important considerations for many colleges and universities is the applicant’s honesty. While many schools will accept a prospective student with a DUI arrest or conviction, most will deny the application of a student who lied about his or her criminal history. According to a San Bernardino DUI defense attorney, if you have a DUI arrest or conviction and you are applying to college or university, it is best to check your school’s policies to determine if you are required to report the arrest or conviction. You may also be required to report your arrest or conviction if you have already been accepted or are attending the school. Again, you should check with your school to determine if they have a specific policy about reporting arrests or convictions.
Another aspect of having a DUI conviction that could impact your ability to obtain a degree is qualifying for financial aid. If you are convicted of felony DUI — for example, if you were convicted of a DUI that killed or hurt someone — then you will be ineligible for many federal programs that offer financial aid to students. Private organizations that offer loans, scholarships and grants may also take your DUI conviction into account when deciding whether to offer you assistance.
Having a DUI conviction on your record can make your life more difficult in any number of ways, particularly when it comes to getting an education. That is why it makes sense to hire a top notch San Bernardino DUI defense attorney to defend you if you have been charged with a California DUI. A skilled DUI lawyer will aggressively pursue every possible defense to the charges, and will investigate every aspect of your case to attempt to have the charges reduced or dismissed.
At the Chambers Law Firm, we know that the stakes are high when our clients are charged with a DUI. That is why we fight hard to achieve the best possible outcome for each of our clients. Contact our firm today at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com to schedule a free initial consultation with a San Bernardino DUI defense attorney.
