DUI Expungement
The penalties for driving under the influence are life-altering. Not only will you be sentenced to criminal penalties, but your job and future employment may be at stake with a drunk-driving conviction on your record.If you have been convicted of DUI, you may be eligible for DUI expungement. Expungement means that your DUI is removed, deleted, or erased from your record. Once your DUI has been expunged, you are legally allowed to say that the drunk-driving violation never occurred. This means that when you are filling out a job application, you may answer “no” if it asks if you have ever been convicted of a crime.
DUI expungement is considered a privilege, not a right. In most states, expungement is typically reserved for a first offense. The state will also take into consideration the reason for the expungement request when making a decision.
You must be proactive in requesting an expungement – it will not happen automatically. It is important to fill out the paperwork correctly when requesting an expungement. Your attorney can assist you in filing the necessary forms.
In order to be eligible for DUI expungement, you must have completed your probation, complied with the terms of your sentence, and not be facing any new charge.
If you are granted an expungement, almost all of your records will be expunged. These include warrants, arrests, complaints, fingerprints, and photographs that are within any court, detention center, or law enforcement agency.
It is important to mention that in some states, an expunged DUI violation may be brought up in court if you are charged with a second or third DUI offense. Because the penalties for driving under the influence are often determined by the number of offenses on your record, this can lead to higher fines or a longer jail sentence.
As you can see, a DUI expungement can offer you a second chance at life, especially when it comes to finding future employment. If you were convicted of DUI and are interested in learning more about expungement, you should contact an experienced attorney in your area today. Your attorney can walk you through the complicated court process.
