Being accused of drunk driving can be disastrous for anyone’s reputation, but this it may be especially true when the accused is a public figure. A Tennessee state representative is now facing such a situation, and the effect they have on his reputation and job remains to be seen.
Fifty-three-year-old State Representative Bill Beck, who represents the Nashville area, was reportedly pulled over by police for swerving out of his lane. Police claim that the state representative’s speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot. Beck claimed he was not drinking alcohol before driving. Though he initially consented to a field sobriety test, Beck later changed his mind and did not complete it. He is now facing charges of violating the state’s implied consent law and driving while under the influence. He was held on a $5,000 bond.
As this arrest shows, no one is immune from accusations of drunk driving. While the effect this drunk driving charge will have on State Representative Beck remains to be seen, a drunk driving conviction could, depending on the situation, cause some people to lose their job. This may especially be true if a person drives for a living, works in a job where they are tasked with upholding the law, or if a person has to spend time in jail away from work. Additionally, a convicted individual may be subjected to license suspension or revocation, fines, a damaged reputation, and potentially jail time.
Because of this, an accused individual should do everything he or she can to defend him or herself against drunk driving charges. Part of this defense may be engaging the help of a criminal defense attorney. No one should have their job and livelihood put in jeopardy due to unfounded accusations of drunk driving, and an experienced Tennessee attorney will fight to protect those who face such allegations.
Source: WJHL News Channel 11, “Tennessee lawmaker arrested on DUI charge,” Apr. 17, 2015
