When you are accused of operating under the influence in Massachusetts, it could affect many areas of your life. You may find that your ability to drive is affected if your license is revoked, you may struggle to maintain the trust of people you care about, your vehicle insurance could skyrocket and you may find yourself questioning how your behavior will affect your future.
One area of your life that could be complicated by your potential conviction is your ability to operate a motor vehicle at work. If your job requires you to drive one of the fleet vehicles, your employer may temporarily or permanently withhold your privileges out of concern for their reputation, the safety of your colleagues and the safety of other motorists on the road. Never try to withhold the fact that you were charged if your employer requests to know. Doing so could be instant grounds for termination.
According to smallbusiness.chron.com, depending on the understanding of your employer and how they feel about your history and the circumstances surrounding your charge, they may choose to fire you. If they feel differently, they may opt to give you a second chance, but may only do so under the contingency that you complete certain requirements designed to reduce your likelihood of reoffending. Often, and especially if you were driving a company vehicle at the time you were operating under the influence, your employer’s insurance could go up significantly. When this happens, they may require you to participate in a driving course that could help lower the insurance costs if you are able to complete it successfully.
The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice.