In the midst of fighting a legal battle, you can often lose some perspective. While trying to figure out a way to reintroduce some normalcy into your life, you may think that it’s easier to just accept whichever plea deal you can, take the hit on your criminal record, and serve your time.
Remember though, having a criminal record of any kind can adversely impact your life in so many ways.
If you’re trying to find an apartment to rent, chances are that your criminal record will make pulling that off quite a challenge. If you’re looking for a job, your potential employer may decide not to hire you based on you having a criminal record.
That’s not all.
Even if you’re just looking to travel, that criminal record can rear its ugly head again and ruin your plans. By not working with a Tampa criminal defense lawyer who can keep your record spotless, expect traveling to become way more difficult.
Driving May No Longer Be an Option
Depending on what crime you are ultimately charged with, you could have your driver’s license suspended or even revoked.
At the low end, the suspension of your driver’s license could last for about three months. Not being able to drive yourself around even just for that length of time could still be enough to make holding down a job nearly impossible. If you’re a parent, picking your kid up from school could also turn into a more complicated ordeal without a valid driver’s license.
You may even consider yourself lucky if you only lose your license for three months. For some, the suspension can last for a year and that can greatly alter their way of life.
Because of your criminal record, your only options when traveling within the city or to other nearby locations are to use public transportation and rely on friends and family to drive you around. Needless to say, those two options are not ideal.
Outstanding Warrants Can Restrict Your Movement
In certain cases, you don’t even need to be convicted of a crime to have your traveling privileges affected.
According to USA Today, individuals with outstanding arrest warrants are at risk whenever they travel. If you have an outstanding arrest warrant and a police officer pulls you over, you could very well end up in jail.
Take note that the warrant doesn’t even have to be for a particularly serious crime. Simply failing to show up to a hearing when you were supposed to could be enough to earn you an arrest warrant and a stint in jail if a police officer finds you.
Work with a Tampa criminal defense lawyer to get issues like this sorted out so that you don’t get sent to jail for a very minor violation.
Traveling to Certain Countries May Prove Impossible
One key thing to note about your criminal history is that it will not automatically disqualify you from getting a passport. For the most part, convictions related to drugs are the only ones that will prevent you from acquiring that passport that is needed for international travel.
Still, you may run into trouble if you are looking to travel internationally with a criminal history. This is especially true if the country you’re going to requires you to secure a visa first. Your visa application may ultimately be denied because of your criminal history, meaning traveling to that particular country is out of the question.
Wikitravel notes that Canada is particularly strict when it comes to criminal convictions. Canada may not approve your entry into the country even if you are convicted of a minor crime.
Fight Against Any Convictions to Preserve Your Rights to Travel
No matter how minor the conviction may be, it is in your best interest to fight it if you know that you are not responsible for the crime. By accepting responsibility for something you did not do, your quality of life can be significantly affected.
Partner up with a Tampa criminal defense lawyer and protect your right to travel freely.