If authorities in Louisiana believe that you are driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you may be charged with DUI. As a result, you may be jailed for several hours, lose your driving privileges and face other consequences. One of these additional consequences could be the loss of your security clearances.
Why your clearance may be at risk
The primary reason why your clearance may be at risk is because driving while impaired shows a lack of good judgment on your part. Therefore, it’s possible that your superiors don’t think that you can be trusted with sensitive information or with an important item. This may be especially true if you have gotten a DUI in the past or have a track record of making questionable decisions. How you act while going through the legal process may also be a determining factor as to whether or not you keep your clearance.
What you can do to help yourself
Taking the criminal defense process seriously may enable you to get the DUI charge reduced or dismissed. For instance, you may cast doubt on the results of a blood test or the reason why you were stopped to begin with. In addition to helping you avoid a large fine or other serious penalties, getting a charge reduced or dismissed may make it easier for your superiors to justify allowing you to keep your clearance.
If you are charged with DUI, it doesn’t mean that you broke any laws. The government will need to prove that your blood alcohol level was above the legal limit or that other evidence proves your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Of course, even if you are cleared of the charge, you could still face discipline at work because of your actions.
