Everyone has made a mistake at some point in life, but all mistakes are not equal. For example, buying the wrong shampoo will not affect your life very much. On the other hand, a conviction for a Kentucky DUI will impact your life in significant but often unexpected ways.
These are called collateral consequences, and they can haunt you for years to come.
What are collateral consequences are possible after a conviction?
The moment a court hands down a conviction in your DUI case, life begins to change. Consequences to expect include spending time in jail and paying costly fees. Collateral consequences are less obvious, but they can make it hard to live a normal life after completing your sentence.
The following list contains examples of these consequences, according to the National Inventory of Collateral Consequences of Conviction (NICCC):
- Loss of voting and gun rights
- Trouble finding or keeping jobs
- Loss of driving privileges
- Trouble renting or buying homes
- Loss of business licenses
- Trouble enrolling in a school or college
- Loss of reputation
- Trouble developing and keep personal relationships
Those haunted by prior mistakes like one or more DUI or drug convictions may find a solution by consulting with a criminal defense attorney. In many cases, DUI and other traffic convictions qualify for expungement in the state of Kentucky.
Wiping your record clean offers many benefits. You will no longer have to admit to prospective employers or landlords that you once had to pay for a crime, and you can find it much easier to move forward with your life on both a personal and professional level.