When your son or daughter went off to study at one of Oklahoma’s colleges or universities, you probably expected this to be a great learning experience. An extended time of independence can allow your child to grow and mature in many ways, and that includes learning from his or her mistakes.
However, if you received a call from your child who informed you the police had arrested him or her for drunk driving, you may wonder if this is a good time to teach your child a hard lesson or to step in and help. While allowing your child to face the criminal justice system without your help may indeed teach a lesson he or she will never forget, it may also result in damages from which your child may never recover.
Long-term consequences
Oklahoma has some of the strictest DUI laws in the country. If your child is convicted, he or she may face mandatory jail time, fines, loss of driving privileges and other penalties. However, a DUI conviction may have a dramatic impact on your child’s future, especially if your child is seeking a career in any of the following areas:
- Education, daycare or other fields that involve working with children
- The military
- Government positions
- Jobs that require driving, including some management positions and sales
- Careers that include the use of a company vehicle
- Jobs that involve handling sensitive information
- Certain jobs that require professional certification
- Nursing and other careers in the medical field
While it may not be impossible for your child with a DUI to follow through with aspirations for these and other fields, having a conviction on record can create a hardship. Additionally, if circumstances lead to a felony DUI conviction, you can be certain your child will struggle trying to find meaningful work. A conviction, whether felony or misdemeanor, may even disqualify a student from continuing in certain courses of study.
As a parent, you want the best for your child. You may wish you can step in and fix things so your child can move forward with a bright future. However, when it comes to drunk driving arrests, there are not always quick fixes. You can provide your child with a strong criminal defense with the help of a skilled Oklahoma attorney who knows the state laws for DUI and can advise your child on the best options for the most positive outcome possible.