You may accept a “wet” reckless plea bargain after you are charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in California. A wet reckless charge may come with less serious penalties. However, it still has effects on your life. Many drivers wonder if a wet reckless affects employment, for example.
Any criminal conviction could impact your employment. Accepting a plea bargain counts as a conviction on your record. However, a wet reckless deal may not affect you in the same way as a DUI. Find out more right here.
DUIs and Wet Reckless Charges May Impact Your Job
Your employer may look poorly on any criminal conviction in California. There are many protected classes of people in our state. Individuals convicted of a crime are not offered employment protection. This means an employer could choose to terminate your employment after a conviction.
Additionally, convictions for a DUI may lead directly to a hearing if you have a professional license. You may lose a healthcare license if you need that for your job, for example. You are not as likely to face a hearing if you are convicted of a wet reckless instead of a DUI.
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Getting a New Job with a Wet Reckless Charge
Both DUIs and wet reckless charges show up on your criminal record. A wet reckless charge shows up as a conviction for reckless driving. However, your record will contain a special note indicating that your charge included alcohol or drugs.
California’s Ban the Box law does not permit potential employers from looking at your record right away. They must make you a conditional job offer before viewing your criminal record. However, they still have the right to take back the offer after they learn you were convicted of a crime.
Employers often look more favorably on a wet reckless charge. A wet reckless conviction indicates that the prosecution was willing to lower your charges. This may help you explain the conviction to a potential employer.
Comparing Other Penalties for DUIs and Wet Reckless Charges
Wet reckless charges may be offered as a plea bargain for a DUI. They are not a standalone charge in California. They are only used as part of a plea bargain. For this reason, they generally come with penalties that are less severe than those for a DUI. DUI convictions in California could lead to:
- Thousands of dollars in fines
- Up to six months in jail time
- Up to six months of using an ignition interlock device (IID)
- Time in DUI school
A wet reckless charge, on the other hand, may result in up to 90 days of jail time. You may face fines of up to $1,000 for this plea deal. Additionally, the court usually does not seek maximum penalties for a wet reckless. You may only end up facing probation. Discuss other facts about wet reckless charges with a DUI lawyer by calling (310) 896-2723.
However, both DUIs and wet reckless charges are considered priorable. This means that they count against you if you are accused of another DUI. DUIs and wet reckless convictions are priorable for 10 years from the date of your arrest, not your conviction.
Expungement and Wet Reckless Charges in California
You may seek to get a wet reckless conviction taken off of your record in California. Removing a conviction from your record requires a process called expungement. You can get some charges expunged as long as you’ve served all penalties ordered by the court. This means you may need to pay any fines and finish your probation before seeking to get your charged expunged.
A DUI lawyer can help you with the expungement of a wet reckless charge. The charge may no longer show up for employers after expungement. However, it remains priorable for the full 10 years following your arrest. You cannot change that legally.
You can also get help handling a DUI charge before you are convicted. A Los Angeles, CA DUI lawyer may work to get you a better deal with a plea bargain. Your lawyer could also take steps to get your charges dismissed in some cases.
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Ask a Lawyer if a Wet Reckless Affects Employment in California
A wet reckless charge may impact your ability to find employment in California. However, a DUI conviction is more likely to cause you problems. You can speak with the Simmrin Law Group to get help handling DUI charges right now. Just reach out to one of our DUI lawyers in California. Complete our online contact form or call (310) 896-2723. We offer free consultations, so contact us today!
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form