Can I lose my job if I am charged with or convicted of a DWI?

Q: Can I lose my job if I am charged with or convicted of a DWI?

A: If you are charged with or convicted of a DWI, your job could be in peril depending on what your job is. If your job requires you to have a driver’s license or a commercial driver’s license, you may have a problem, because when you get a hardship license or conditional license, that is not a normal license, and many employers may not want you to drive on that license. If you are convicted of Driving While Intoxicated, that is a misdemeanor level offense, and so some employers would deem you not eligible to have that job anymore. If you have a professional license, it can bring that license into peril.