Blog

When a NH DWI Threatens Your Career

Posted by Ryan Russman | May 28, 2014 | 0 Comments

A DWI conviction can have a lot of negative consequences. For example, someone convicted of driving while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol in New Hampshire could face steep fines, license suspension, probation and even jail time. In some cases, however, it can even lead to the loss of your job or career.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that an elementary school bus driver is facing charges for DUI and child endangerment. 67-year-old James Douglas Gurr was arrested in February of this year after he rear ended another vehicle at a traffic signal while taking children to school in the morning. Gurr had 23 elementary school children in his bus at the time of the accident and, when police responded to the scene of the accident, they found that he appeared flushed and had a slight odor of alcohol on his person. These are both signs that police officers look for when evaluating the sobriety of the suspect. After noticing these cues, law-enforcement agents asked Gurr to take a breath test on the scene and found that his results showed a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the legal limit of 0.08.

Gurr was arrested and later released on a $2,300 bond. The article reports that he is being charged with following too closely, DUI and endangering a child by DUI. These charges are very serious, because operating a school bus requires a commercial vehicle license and Gurr is likely facing commercial license DUI charges. Additionally, in many states such as Georgia, a person accused of child endangerment by DUI can be charged with one count of child endangerment for every child meaning Gurr faces up to 23 counts of child endangerment..

In light of these charges, Gurr has resigned from his position as a school bus driver. Had he not resigned, a spokesperson for the school district stated, he would have been terminated. If he is convicted, it is not likely that Gurr will be able to find another position as a bus driver and will likely face an extensive period of commercial driver's license suspension. This case highlights the importance of hiring an experienced defense attorney.

A DWI that occurs on the job or while driving with a commercial license can have a big impact on your career. Whether you need to drive for your occupation, you need a security clearance or your employer requires a clean driving record, a DWI could be grounds for dismissal. The good news is that if you avoid conviction, your record will remain clean.. A conviction can have an effect on your career, your education and even your living situation. If you fight your charges and get them dismissed or are found not guilty, nothing will be reported on your criminal record. A DWI arrest does not mean that you are automatically guilty.

If you are facing similar charges in New Hampshire, contact Russman Law immediately. A NH DWI lawyer will help you build the best defense for your case. Call our office now to find out more.

About the Author

Ryan Russman

Attorney Ryan Russman has dedicated his career to fighting for the rights of New Hampshire citizens. His practice, based in Exeter (Rockingham County) New Hampshire, is limited to cases involving DWI and DUI, other motor vehicle and criminal cases, and many cases involving personal injury. He is, however, best known as one of New Hampshire's leading legal authorities on DWI.

Comments

There are no comments for this post. Be the first and Add your Comment below.

Leave a Comment