DUI Expungement

Having a DUI (driving under the influence) conviction on your record can lead to life-altering consequences. Your auto insurance rates will skyrocket or the insurance company may choose to drop your coverage. You may also have problems finding future employment with a conviction on your criminal record.

One way to avoid these problems is to have your conviction expunged. DUI expungement allows all evidence of your drunk-driving arrest and trial erased from your record. This means that when potential employers, insurance companies, credit bureaus, and government agencies look at your criminal and/or driving record, it will come back clean.

The laws regarding DUI expungement vary from state to state; therefore, it is important to hire an experienced DUI lawyer who is familiar with your state’s expungement process.

Expungement is typically only granted for first-time offenders. In order to be eligible for DUI expungement, you must complete all terms of your sentence including jail time, community service, fines, and alcohol education programs. Expungement is not available if you are still on probation; however, your attorney may file a motion to terminate probation. While expungement may be granted for a misdemeanor charge, you may be required to obtain a Certificate of Rehabilitation or Governor’s Pardon for a felony offense.

It is important to note that even if your DUI is expunged from your record, it can still be considered a prior offense if you are convicted of a similar crime in the future. Because drunk-driving penalties are determined by how many prior DUI offenses are your record, this can lead to increased penalties, including jail time.

You must proactively seek out DUI expungement; DUI expungement does not occur automatically. To request expungement, you must obtain the proper paperwork and fill it out completely before submitting it to the courthouse. Having an experienced DUI lawyer on your side can help make the expungement process run smoothly and increase the likelihood of success.

If your DUI expungement is granted, you can safely answer “no” when asked on an application whether you have ever been convicted of a crime. This can make it easier to apply to jobs and schools that require a clean background check.

To learn more about DUI expungement, contact a local DUI defense lawyer today.