How DUI criminal records negatively impact manual labour and skilled trades workers.

Ontario skilled trades, construction workers, and other manual labour employees can lose their job or be deemed unemployable if they are found guilty of DUI and get a criminal record.

Will I lose my job because of a DUI?

Not necessarily. You're presumed innocent after all. If you've just been charged with a DUI, it is not known yet what will happen with your case. If you are found guilty it definitely can cause problems, especially with larger employers who require criminal record checks. DUI criminal records (convictions) show up on background checks and are seen as a liability.

DUI records are viewed as risky by employers

Employers and their HR departments see a DUI record as an indication you have difficulty following rules. Job sites and manual labour working environments require the utmost care and attention to keep everyone safe. Employers are cautious about who is working on site and operating their machinery. They don't want to be held liable for the accused or their coworkers getting hurt on the job.

Since plumbers, roofers, electricians, and other tradespersons also work in people's homes, employers do not want to hire workers with criminal records. Whether on a construction site or in someone's home, employers consider a DUI criminal record a risk to avoid.

DUI accused skilled trades workers in Ontario should hire a lawyer right away to try to get the charges dropped, not plead guilty and throw their career away for nothing.

Some people plead guilty right away and lose their job when they could have got off if they hired a lawyer. Without first having your own lawyer review your case disclosure and look for problems, you have no idea if it can be dropped or not. There could be problems that you are unaware of. Our job is to find those problems for you and try to use them to get you off.

Don't think you have no case. There are many reasons why DUIs get dropped in Ontario. If there are problems with your case, our lawyers will find them and use them to your advantage.

You should try to fight the charges and protect your career. Trades jobs often require a lot of education and experience to get into. You may have completed college courses, obtained Red Seal program certifications, and have invested a significant amount of your time training and gaining job experience.

You've worked hard to build your career. Don't throw it all away for nothing by pleading guilty without first knowing whether the Crown has a good case against you or not. You may have a false impression regarding the strength of their case. Maybe the charges can be dropped and you just don't realize it yet.

Ontario employers frequently test workers for drug and alcohol use. This shows how much they do not want employees with DUI criminal records.

A lot of labour and trades jobs require employees to regularly pass a breathalyzer or submit a clean urine sample in order to work. They do not want employees with known drug or alcohol problems. Even if you are highly skilled and otherwise what they are looking for, a DUI criminal record is a huge red flag that will cause them to reject you.

Workers with DUIs get treated poorly by employers.

You may not be a bad person, but employers and HR departments will treat you like one if you have a DUI on your record. The label and financial consequences can be extremely unfair especially in cases where the accused has worked very hard to acquire the skills and experience needed for their profession.

Many employers and their HR departments won't listen to your explanation at all. It won't matter how long ago it was, that it was just a one-time mistake, or whatever other mitigating factors you tell them. The only thing they care about is that you have a criminal record for DUI.

Don't plead guilty right away. The Crown may not have a good case.

Just being charged with DUI does not mean you will be found guilty or get a criminal record. Cases can be dropped for various reasons and some accused are found not guilty after a trial. Even in cases where the accused blows way over (two or three times) the "legal limit" other crucial case elements may be missing. The Crown may not be able to prove you guilty at all.

DUI accused tradespeople owe it to themselves to do everything they can to avoid a conviction, especially given the amount of time and effort they put into their careers. Don't throw it all away for nothing. If you've been charged, give us a call at 647-228-5969 for assistance. Maybe we'll find problems with your case and you'll catch a break.

You don't have to jeopardize your future or waste thousands of dollars on excessive legal fees. We provide effective and affordable lawyer representation for those charged with impaired driving throughout all of Ontario, Canada.

Have a skilled criminal lawyer who focuses on defending DUI charges protect you and your future from the consequences of a criminal record.




Are you a lawyer? If you are defending a impaired driving related case and are looking for expert advice regarding possible defences, case strategies, and information release management call us at: 647-228-5969.

Please note: We do not accept legal aid certificate cases. All clients are handled on a private retainer only.

---