A drunk driving conviction can lead to serious penalties. Many people think about the court imposed penalties when they consider what will happen after a conviction.
Court imposed penalties are ones that the judge issues as a result of the conviction. These penalties have a definite end date that you can look forward to as long as you do what the court requires. There are also other consequences of a conviction that you would have to deal with.
Definition of a collateral consequence
A collateral consequence is one that you have to deal with because of the conviction. However, this type of consequence isn’t handed down by the court. These consequences can come in the form of missed opportunities or extra things that you have to deal with just because you were convicted of a crime. Unlike court imposed penalties, collateral consequences don’t have end dates in most cases.
Work-related consequences
There is a good chance that you will lose your driver’s license because of the conviction. If this is the case, you won’t be able to drive for work. Even if you are able to keep your driver’s license, you might have to use an ignition interlock in order to drive a vehicle. This means that you won’t be able to drive a company vehicle unless your employer is willing to place an ignition interlock on the vehicle you drive.
Insurance consequences
You might have to get SR-22 insurance coverage when you are able to drive again. This is a special type of insurance that requires the carrier to meet certain specifications and responsibilities. This type of insurance is more expensive than other types of insurance, so it can have a huge impact on your finances. The good thing about this collateral consequence is that you will know how long you have to carry the coverage.
Social consequences
The social consequences depend on your circumstances. Without your driver’s license, you might find that it is hard to socialize with your friends because you can’t drive to meeting places. You might also find that it is hard for you to run errands and do things that you need to do.
The only way that you can combat these consequences is to fight against the charges. You need to consider all of the options for your defense so that you can make decisions regarding your case based on this information.
