Getting convicted of a DUI comes with criminal penalties that can affect your life, but it also has other effects that might not be immediately obvious. A DUI can remain on your record for many years if you don’t take action. However, a drug crimes defense lawyer in California can help you get your record expunged.
Having a clean record opens up many opportunities in your life, and for many people, it’s worth the time and effort to find a skilled lawyer who can help you expunge drunk driving charges from your record.
The Seriousness of DUI Conviction in California
Getting a DUI in the state of California is a serious legal concern. The most immediate results are usually arrest, jail time, and a steep fine. Some other consequences include potential difficulties passing the background checks performed by employers and a license suspension.
For example, after your arrest, you may have limited driving privileges, a criminal record, and an increase in auto insurance costs. If you have a commercial driving license, your license will be suspended for a year without the option of restricted driving privileges for work.
All of these can impact your daily life and make things more inconvenient. Limited driving or revocation of driving privileges can make shopping, visiting loved ones, and other tasks much more difficult.
If you are facing a potential DUI conviction, seek help from an experienced lawyer who can help you fight the charges and get the best possible outcome.
How Long Does DUI Stay on Your Driving Record?
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) maintains driving records that include information on all of your traffic tickets and other traffic infractions.
DUI charges have a limit to how long they stay on your driving record, though. Generally, your record only includes the past 10 years of incidents.
That means that after 10 years, a past DUI won’t automatically show up on your record. It also won’t show up on a background check if you’ve been able to expunge your criminal record.
In addition, a DUI will stay on your insurance record for up to five years, affecting your monthly premium.
A DUI conviction on your driving record also won’t show up on most background checks, meaning that your main concern will be expunging or sealing the incident from your criminal record.
How Long Does DUI Stay on Your Criminal Record?
Since a DUI is a serious offense, it generally stays on your criminal record for life unless you take action to remove it.
A history of this kind of risky behavior can lead to higher auto insurance premiums—and rejection from prospective employers and landlords. If you have pending charges against you, the best course of action is to work hard to avoid a criminal conviction.
Drug crimes and other offenses on your record can limit your employment opportunities and even your choices for housing. For many people, an expungement is an excellent option that can open up many opportunities.
DUI and Background Check
A DUI conviction will show up on any standard background check. In modern life, opportunities ranging from employment to volunteering require background checks.
A history of drunk driving can affect your ability to work in fields like education, healthcare, and other industries with extensive background checks. For example, if you plan to volunteer with children, the program manager may check to see if you have a criminal record.
Expungement, or clearing your criminal record, can make it much easier to
DUI in California and Expungement
Removing a DUI from your record is possible through a process called expungement.
Expungement means to completely seal off a criminal conviction from your record. It removes the incident from your criminal record and means that even with a comprehensive background check, it will not show up as part of your history.
For example, if you were convicted of driving under the influence, you can file paperwork and pay fees to get it expunged from your record. That means that if someone looks into your background, they won’t see the incident listed.
This doesn’t mean that you won’t face the consequences for your actions but instead allows you to put a DUI conviction behind you and move forward with your life.
Before you can get your record sealed, you’ll need to meet a few requirements.
How Can You Get Your DUI Record in California Expunged?
Getting your record expunged takes some paperwork, but it can make a major difference in your life overall. Having your record sealed means that employers, landlords, and other people looking into your background won’t be able to see that you had a DUI.
To get your record sealed after a DUI or other careless driving charge, you will need to meet certain eligibility requirements. This includes:
- Not facing other criminal charges
- Not on probation for other charges
- You did not go to state prison for your DUI offense
Once you have completed probation, you can seek to have your history expunged from your criminal record.
However, your DUI will remain on your record if you get an additional alcohol offense within 10 years of the first one. That means it will be classified as a second offense.
A consultation with an attorney can help you get on the path to getting your background clean, so you won’t have to worry about making a negative first impression on important figures in your life.
Get Help from an Experienced Defense Attorney for Your DUI Problem
An attorney with experience can help you take the best course of action if you are facing DUI charges and other issues like the revocation of driving privileges.
A drug crimes defense lawyer in California can assist you in sealing a DUI conviction, ensuring that the process goes smoothly. Without a lawyer, you could make mistakes that lengthen the expungement process and cost you valuable time.
During a consultation, we will discuss the best plan of action for your unique case and your different legal options. For more information on how to proceed when faced with a DUI conviction, contact us at 877-545-3559 at LibertyBell Law Group today!
Gina Tennen
Founder
At A Glance
- Expert legal strategist.
- Experienced in both prosecution and defense.
- Relentless fighter for her clients with results to prove it.
- Received the National Top 100 Trial Lawyers Award
- Featured in Time Magazine’s “Leaders of Criminal Defense“ in the 100 Most Influential People edition.
Executive Managing Attorney Gina Tennen is a renowned leading advocate of personal liberties. Her meticulous trial preparation and exceptional ability to pursue every possible defense has earned her the admiration of clients and respect from prosecutors, judges, and other criminal attorneys all over the nation.
Lawyer Tennen began her career as a Senior Law Clerk for one of the toughest District Attorney’s offices in the country where she gained remarkable experience in juvenile crimes, elder abuse, parole hearings, child abuse, sex and other serious crimes. Her experience at the District Attorney’s Office armed her knowledge and case strategy in exploiting the other side’s weaknesses for the client’s advantage and building a rock solid defense. Criminal attorney Tennen’s experience on both sides and brilliant maneuvering throughout is evidenced in her winning track record. In fact, even before earning her law degree, she was instrumental in getting excellent results on several criminal cases outshining her peers.
A consummate strategist and top criminal attorney, lawyer Tennen works tirelessly on many high profile criminal cases. She is known as a relentless fighter who never gives up on any case. Whether the case is hers or handled by another criminal defense attorney from LibertyBell Law Group, no matter how small the case may seem she asserts that every client deserves the right to the best legal representation.
It is her deep belief and what she has built her entire career and lifelong dedication to that there is always hope for every client and every avenue should be pursued regardless of the time and energy it takes. For criminal attorney, Gina Tennen, devoting the finest criminal defense for clients is a habit and talent that you must apply and do all the time.
You demand the best defense. Take hold of your life and speak to our defense attorneys by calling 855-LAW-PRO1 (855-529-7761) now.
Founder Gina Tennen and all the sex offender attorneys at LibertyBell Law Group uphold that when the bell rings, it rings for life and liberty for all.
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