A DUI conviction often conjures images of revoked licenses or hefty fines, but what about the less-discussed aftermath? The aftermath of a conviction can extend far beyond the courtroom and touch every area of your life.

6 Long-Term Consequences of DUI Convictions

The moment you’re pulled over, arrested, and charged with a DUI is a bad night. It can feel embarrassing and horrifying. However, the short-term consequences pale in comparison to what comes down the road.

“I don’t think your average person realizes how much of an impact a DUI conviction has on the rest of their life,” attorney Rowdy G. Williams warns. “It’s not just an expensive fine and embarrassing moment. It can actually prevent you from building that career you want.”

For a little perspective, here are some of the “unseen” consequences that come with a DUI conviction.

1. Job and Career Implications

You might think a DUI only affects your personal life, but that would be incorrect. A DUI conviction can seriously impact your career opportunities and job prospects. Many employers actively conduct background checks when evaluating candidates. A DUI conviction will raise concerns about your responsibility, reliability, and judgment as an employee. And if you’re in a position that requires you to drive on the job, forget about it. No company will willingly take on that risk or liability.

2. Reputation Damage

A DUI conviction doesn’t just affect your legal status; it can also damage your reputation within their community, social circles, and professional networks. News of a conviction can spread quickly through word of mouth or even media coverage, impacting how others perceive you. This can be particularly embarrassing and frustrating for both you and your loved ones.

3. Strained Relationships

Don’t underestimate how much strain a DUI conviction puts on personal relationships. It can create tension within your family and even lead to a divorce or breakup with your significant other or romantic partner. That’s not something you want to risk.

4. Guilt and Stigma

People who are convicted of a DUI often experience feelings of guilt. You might blame yourself for making a stupid decision. And if anyone was hurt, that adds another layer of guilt.

Ultimately, all of the guilt you experience compounds with the public stigma that’s associated with driving under the influence. This leads to a downward spiral of shame and isolation. Many people say that a DUI conviction has seriously impacted their mental health and self-esteem – something that doesn’t go away quickly.

5. Increased Insurance Costs

In terms of dollars and cents, the DUI penalties and fines aren’t the only expenses you’ll see. Insurance companies see drivers who have been convicted of past DUIs as major liabilities. As such, they increase insurance premiums significantly.

According to Forbes Advisor’s analysis, “The national average auto insurance rate increase for drivers with a DUI is 70%. That king-size rate increase translates to an extra $1,470 a year for car insurance. By comparison, the average rate increase after a speeding ticket is only 22% and the rate increase after an accident is 42%.”

So if you’re looking to keep your monthly expenses low, a DUI is the last thing you need!

6. Permanent Record

Perhaps one of the most profound and enduring consequences of a DUI conviction is the creation of a permanent criminal record. This record becomes a part of an individual’s legal history and is accessible to potential employers, landlords, lenders, and others who may conduct background checks. As a result, securing housing, obtaining loans, and even pursuing certain career paths can become significantly more challenging.

Many educational institutions and licensing boards conduct background checks as part of their application processes. Depending on the severity of the conviction and the requirements of the institution or board, a DUI conviction could potentially hinder your ability to enroll in certain programs or obtain professional licenses.

Don’t Let a DUI Conviction Wreck Your World

Law enforcement officers and state courts take DUIs very seriously – and rightly so! But if you’ve been wrongly convicted, or feel like the charges you’re facing aren’t accurate, it’s important that you do something to fight back. You can’t afford to let a DUI conviction change your life for the worse! Contact an attorney and develop a plan to fight back so that you can avoid the long-term consequences outlined above.

When just one parent or legal guardian may apply for a U.S. passport for a child, the DS-3053, Statement of Consent, is an essential document. However, there is no universal rule for when to use the DS-3053 form; rather, it varies widely based on the specifics of each case. Here, we go into two unique aspects of the DS-3053 form: the potential of electronic submissions and the circumstance in which the absent parent resides outside of the United States.

Examining the opportunities of electronic submissions

The option to submit paperwork digitally is very convenient in today’s modern day. Electronic submissions of the DS-3053 form, however, are still subject to certain criteria and restrictions. To get a passport in the United States, you’ll need to submit form DS-3053 in person at a passport acceptance agent. This is owing to the requirement of producing original papers and the significance of notarization in establishing the validity of the absent parent’s signature. Applicants for U.S. passports were formerly needed to submit a notarized hard copy of the form to the Department of State.

It is important to double-check the most recent rules and processes on the U.S. Department of State’s official website or by contacting a passport acceptance facility directly, even if electronic submissions may become increasingly common over time. If you are unable to submit your DS-3053 electronically, you can try other methods to speed up the process, such as making use of a passport acceptance facility’s flexible scheduling, consulting legal authorities when dealing with international complexities, or contacting a passport agency for advice.

International issues and possible solutions of parental absence abroad

The DS-3053 form may become complicated when one or both parents are living outside of the United States and one or both children are applying for citizenship. This creates a set of difficulties that must be carefully considered in light of applicable international and legal regulations. If the absent parent is living overseas and unable to sign the DS-3053 form in person, you may need to take the following measures:

• It may be required to seek advice from legal authorities and investigate possibilities for gaining permission in accordance with the laws of the nation where the absent parent is living if the parent’s location is known but they are unwilling or unable to return to the United States to offer consent.
• It’s smart to consult a lawyer, and you may want to hire one if they specialize in international family law. Expert legal counsel is available on the specifics of obtaining approval from an overseas parent.
• The issuing of a passport for a minor without both parents present may need a court order or other legal documentation, depending on the specifics of the applicable law and jurisdiction.
• If the location of the absent parent is known, you may contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for help through the legal processes and getting approval. They are a great resource for learning the ins and outs of the local laws.

International factors may increase the complexity of the DS-3053 application procedure, therefore it’s important to approach these circumstances with a proactive perspective and give yourself plenty of time for legal processes and cooperation.

In general, the DS-3053’s applicability varies depending on several aspects such as the location of an absent parent and the feasibility of electronic submissions. It is essential to adhere to legal norms, seek advice from legal specialists, and interact with appropriate authorities when dealing with foreign situations. While electronic submissions may become more convenient as technology advances, it is still crucial to keep up-to-date on the latest standards to guarantee a successful application process.

Distracted driving deaths are on the rise. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving claimed 3,522 lives in 2021. And the problem is only getting worse. Distracted driving deaths are up from 3,142 in 2019 and 2,858 in 2018. What’s behind this troubling trend?

Smartphone distractions

One of the main drivers behind distracted driving is smartphones. According to  Christoph Lauterwasser, head of the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT), “The proportion of drivers who pick up their smartphone to read or send a text increased by almost two-thirds between 2016 and 2022, from 15 to 24 percent.” 

But texting isn’t the only way smartphones are being used while driving. Other forms of smartphone distraction include calling, checking social media and other notifications, and even watching videos (some drivers with a smartphone mount meant for GPS navigation use it to watch videos on the road). All of these can be extremely dangerous. 

“Distractions caused by using modern technology while driving increase the risk of accidents by 50 percent,” Lauterwasser said.

The need for change

To give you a better sense of how deadly distracted driving is, consider this comparison made by National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) vice chairman Bruce Landsberg:

“If we pull up the number of distracted driving fatalities compared to aviation, we would be losing one airliner a week, one airliner a week that’s the losses that we have due to distracted driving.”

Unfortunately, many of us are more desensitized to car accident fatalities than we are to plane crash deaths. But this doesn’t make them any less deadly. If we want to reduce preventable deaths across the board, we must work to limit distracted driving.

Challenges to reducing drivers’ smartphone use

Of course, getting drivers to look at their smartphones less can be challenging. For one, it’s difficult to prove a driver was using their phone right before an accident. This can lead to underreporting, making it hard to know how bad the problem is in the first place.

Getting drivers to refrain from smartphone use while driving is also difficult due to the addictive nature of smartphone apps. App developers purposefully design apps to keep users’ attention because that’s how they make money (via ad revenue usually). Consequently, the incentives of app developers don’t align with those of public safety.

Furthermore, public safety officials face an uphill battle in effecting reform because drivers and regulators often don’t understand the severity of the problem. Why? Because many drivers don’t want to admit they use their smartphone while driving and the issue goes underreported to regulators as a result.

Potential solutions to smartphone distractions while driving

So what’s the best way to reduce smartphone use while driving? There’s no magic bullet, but here are some potential ways forward:

• Car manufacturers can adopt technologies that enhance driver safety, such as trackers that warn drivers when they get distracted.
• App developers can promote driver safety by automatically disabling apps when the app senses the user is driving.
• Local governments and divisions of motor vehicles (DMVs) can administer more thorough driver safety training that focuses on modern smartphone distractions and their tragic consequences. 

At the end of the day, it’s impossible to completely eliminate traffic accidents caused by smartphone distractions. However, significant improvements are possible. 

For those who become victims of a car accident caused by distracted driving, consult a reputable car accident attorney. They can help you navigate the complex legal system of car accidents and help ensure you get the compensation you deserve.