Pro golfer and celebrity Tiger Woods was arrested on Memorial Day in the state of Florida. Wood was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, and, in fact, Woods was charged with DUI and improper parking, although Woods has since said there was no alcohol involved in the incident, rather that he had an unexpected reaction to prescription meds. Unfortunately for Woods, this is not his first high-profile mishap. In November of 2009, the golfer was taken to the hospital after a car accident which took place in front of his home in Orlando, Florida. Just days later, the crash led to the even more sensational news that Woods had cheated on his wife. After taking a break from pro golf, Woods later apologized for his extramarital affairs, as well as for letting his fans down.  

Woods, who was rehabbing from back surgery at the time, claimed he did not realize the medications would affect him so significantly. Although there is no current outcome to this case, Woods’ reputation has definitely taken yet another hit from the accusations. Any person whose position puts them in the public eye is more likely to have their reputation affected by DUI charges, although such charges can potentially damage the reputation of anyone. When DUI charges are made against a person, the news of those charges could spread like wildfire, particularly if the person resides in a small community.

Further Reading: Helping Your Child After an Arrest

A DUI Can Ruin Your Public Reputation

Driving under the influence is the #1 criminal offense in the United States. Yet, even an accusation of DUI can have damaging effects to your private and business life. Your public reputation can suffer greatly after an arrest for DUI, especially if you are in the public eye, such as a movie star or sports celebrity. A DUI conviction, can have even more consequences, including:

• Revocation of your driver’s license. If you are convicted of a DUI in the state of Colorado, you could find you are facing a suspension of your driver’s license. Without a driver’s license, it is often very difficult to get to and from work, take your children to and from school, or even go to the grocery store.
• Background checks. Nearly all employers conduct a criminal background check prior to hiring a job applicant. If you have a felony or misdemeanor DUI conviction on your criminal history, you could find yourself being denied a job you are otherwise very well qualified for.
• Current employment jeopardization. If you are currently employed, then a DUI arrest and conviction can damage and even destroy your career. Mandatory court dates, being sentenced to community service or even jail time can cause you to lose your job. In addition, jobs which require that you drive a company vehicle (pizza delivery, truck driver, etc.) will most likely be closed to you with a DUI conviction on your record.
• Auto insurance rates. After you have been arrested and convicted of DUI, your insurance rates will skyrocket. This may make it impossible to continue to afford car insurance. In some cases, your insurance company might drop you altogether,
• Professional and personal relationships. Finally, following a DUI arrest, relationships—both professional and private—suffer significantly. The manner in which your coworkers, friends, and even family perceive you could be adversely affected. If you are a public figure, your DUI arrest could be publicized by local media.

Contact Our Boulder DUI Defense Lawyers

If you have been arrested and charged with DUI in Colorado, it is important to fight these charges aggressively to avoid having it derail your entire life. Contact the Boulder DUI defense lawyers at Steven Louth Law Offices today for a free consultation and review of your case. Call us at (303) 422-2297 to start building a solid defense against these serious criminal charges.