You may have a chance to work as a police officer with a DUI (driving under the influence) conviction on your criminal record in certain cases. However, a DUI conviction could impact your law enforcement career in California in some situations.
Typically, it’s best to handle DUI charges before a conviction if you want to work as a police officer. You can learn more about how a DUI can affect your job options with a Los Angeles DUI lawyer.
Can You Work as a Cop with a DUI in California?
In some cases, you can work as a police officer with a DUI in California. A study of law enforcement officers arrested (conducted by the U.S. government) showed that over 900 police officers faced DUI charges over a seven-year period of study and continued to work.
Therefore, you can clearly continue to work as a police officer after a DUI arrest in many cases. Instead of losing your job, you may face administrative penalties on the job.
A Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer can provide more information about the potential effects of a DUI arrest on your job as a police officer. An attorney can also fight these charges head-on, potentially avoiding a conviction.
For a free legal consultation, call (310) 896-2723
Can You Get Hired as a Police Officer with a DUI?
You may have a chance to begin your career as a police officer with a DUI conviction on your record. However, law enforcement agencies in the state have different hiring requirements, so you may not qualify for every job as a police officer with a DUI conviction on your record.
Additionally, hiring decisions can vary on a case-by-case basis, even for an agency that accepts some employees with DUIs. These agencies may make their decision after reviewing your record to see if:
- You have more than one DUI on your record
- You caused an accident while driving under the influence
- You damaged someone’s property while impaired
- You injured another person in a DUI accident
Additionally, these agencies usually look to see how far in the past the DUI happened, especially if your job will require you to operate a vehicle. The agency may decide not to hire you after a recent DUI, since you typically face restrictions on your license in this situation, and police officers often have to drive.
Can You Work as a Police Officer with a Felony DUI?
Many law enforcement agencies in California will not hire someone with a felony conviction on their record. Therefore, if you face charges for a felony DUI, it can influence your ability to work as a police officer.
Generally, California prosecutes DUIs as misdemeanor-level offenses. However, you can face felony charges if the police accuse you of causing an injury or death in a DUI accident.
Additionally, drivers with three or more prior DUIs on their record can face automatic felony charges. An attorney can provide more information about what a felony DUI is in California and how it can influence your career.
Can You Work as a Police Officer with a DUID?
Generally, law enforcement agencies will not hire you if they find a drug-related conviction on your criminal record, including a conviction for driving under the influence of drugs (DUID). Therefore, you typically cannot work as a cop with a DUID conviction.
You Can Protect Your Career as a Police Officer
While you may work as a police officer with a DUI in some situations, you have a stronger chance of getting the job that you want if you handle drunk driving accusations instead of just accepting a conviction.
A DUI attorney can take charge of your legal situation and help you explore options to resolve these allegations. In some situations, a criminal defense lawyer could focus on taking steps like:
- Having your charges reduced
- Getting the court to dismiss your DUI charges
- Defending you in court
An attorney can help with both misdemeanor and felony DUI allegations. Getting help immediately after your arrest can give you a better chance of successfully resolving these charges.
An attorney can also help with your Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) hearing after a DUI arrest. You must request this hearing quickly after a DUI accusation or the DMV will automatically suspend your license, making it harder for you to get a job that requires you to drive.
Other Effects of a DUI
A DUI conviction can impact your life in many ways, even beyond influencing your career options. For example, a conviction could result in jail time, fines, restrictions on your license, and requirements to go on probation.
California may even require you to install an ignition interlock device (IID) on any vehicle you operate after a conviction for drunk driving.
Fortunately, a lawyer can work diligently on your defense against these charges. Your attorney may need to show that the police mishandled BAC tests or stopped you without reasonable cause to address the allegations you face.
Talk to Us About Working as a Cop with a DUI in California
So, can you work as a police officer with a DUI in California? In many cases, you can maintain your job on the force after a DUI, and you may even start your career in law enforcement after a drunk driving conviction.
However, you should know that these charges can affect your career in some cases, especially if you face felony charges or accusations of driving under the influence of drugs.
Our team at Simmrin Law Group can build a solid defense to all DUI charges. We have decades of experience and can develop a personalized defense to meet your needs, so contact us today.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form