Uber Driver DUIs: What You Should Know

What happens if you get a DUI while driving for Uber? Does Uber have rules regarding past DUIs? Keep reading to learn more.

Uber DUI Policy

Uber and Lyft have revolutionized transportation, but with innovation comes challenges. Since its founding, Uber has changed its driver policies to accommodate the landscape of rideshares and technological advances. A part of this effort is a DUI driver policy. According to the Uber driver safety and behavior policy, drivers with a DUI conviction within the last seven years are not permitted to drive for Uber. So, if you have DUI charges on your record during the last seven years, you cannot work for Uber unless your case was dismissed or expunged. Drivers whose cases were dismissed by the court or expunged must provide proof of the dismissal or expungement and be prepared to defend their case. Records may include court documents, the expungement approval notice, and case documents. In addition to a strict DUI policy, Uber has other restrictions for potential drivers including:

• No speeding violations over 20 miles per hour over the speed limit in the last three years
• No more than three traffic violations within the past three years
• No reckless driving charges within the last seven years
• At least three years of experience driving in the United States

Uber will perform a background check that focuses on driving records. If you plan to apply, you must be prepared to defend your case dismissal or expungement. Those with poor driving records and a history of DUIs will not be accepted.

Other Rideshares

Another popular rideshare company, Lyft, also has strict policies regarding your driving record. For example, Lyft drivers cannot have any driving-related felonies like vehicular manslaughter in the last seven years. Additionally, potential applicants must have a clean record free of speeding tickets, traffic violations, and drug-related driving offenses in the past three years. While apps like Uber and Lyft can be substantial side hustles, these companies prioritize candidates with a history of safe driving. DUIs, speeding, and other violations are unacceptable which means depending on your record, you may not qualify for a position at either company.

What Happens If You Get a DUI While Driving an Uber?

Background checks are all fine and good, but what happens if you get a DUI while working as an Uber driver? What happens if you get pulled over with a passenger in the car? The important thing to understand about Uber drivers is that they are, by definition, commercial drivers. This means that like school bus and truck drivers, the blood alcohol concentration is lower compared to non-commercial drivers. The national legal limit is 0.08 BAC but the limit for commercial drivers is only 0.04. This means that there is little margin for error if you choose to pick up a passenger. There is no standardized metric for intoxication. People have different ages, body chemistry, weight, tolerance, and other extenuating factors that influence how much liquor it takes to get drunk. Some people can reach the legal limit on one drink while others need a six-pack to get tipsy. Food and water intake can also affect intoxication – you might get “drunker” on an empty stomach. These factors make it difficult to judge whether you are at the legal limit or not. For commercial drivers, the legal limit is significantly lower which means that taking a risk and having a few drinks before the drive is extremely risky. Uber has a zero-tolerance policy for drug and alcohol use and anyone who becomes intoxicated while working is at risk for termination. Once Uber receives a report that one of their drivers may be driving under the influence, they will revoke their access to the platform.

Have You Been Charged with a DUI?

If you have a DUI on your record or have been arrested for drunk driving while transporting a passenger for Uber, you must contact an attorney as soon as possible. You may be able to get your DUI expunged which could make you eligible for employment as a driver. For those arrested while on the job, you need a lawyer to help you protect your rights. The Wagner Law Firm is the premier DUI defense firm in West Virginia. Our attorney focuses on DUI cases exclusively and is the co-founder of the West Virginia DUI Defense Lawyers Association. When you entrust your case to our firm, you can rest assured that our attorney will fight for you.