Are DUIs Forever . . . How Long Will A DUI Be On My Record?

A DUI will not necessarily remain on your driving record forever. If your first offense was a misdemeanor, it will stay on your DMV driving record for 10 years. This will be true of a felony charge as well.

In the event that you are arrested for driving under the influence a second time, the judge will take your prior conviction into consideration if the 10-year period has not passed. If 10 years have passed, your first arrest should not be held against you.

California Driving Laws Are Always Evolving 

California drivers must be aware that the laws can change at any time. The state’s legislators are in the process of creating a law that would allow a DUI conviction to remain on a person’s driving record forever. This would mean that your driving record can be clean for 30 years between your first and second arrests, but the prosecutor will be forced to charge you with a second offense. Then, the court will have no choice but to sentence you as a repeat offender, and this will not be to your advantage because you would receive a harsher sentence.

The Possibility of Expungement 

It’s possible to have your prior conviction expunged from your criminal record. This does not mean that your arrest will disappear. It would mean that your record will have the words “set aside and dismissed” rather than the word “convicted” next to the charge. This will benefit you if you are ever required to submit to a background check. If you decide to pursue this possibility, keep in mind that expungement is very rare.

Contact a DUI Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one has been arrested for driving under the influence, you will need the services of an experienced DUI lawyer. At Win DUI, we have many tools that we can use to help you fight this charge. You are not necessarily guilty of drunken driving just because a law enforcement officer arrested you. Contact us today, and let us help you save your reputation.

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Drunk Driving, A Forever Controversial Issue

Drunk driving continues to be a controversial issue because it affects so many people. When someone makes the decision to drive after ingesting alcoholic beverages, there is an increased risk that this person will cause an accident. Furthermore, these types of crashes are often worse than other collisions because they can cause much more serious injuries, including broken bones, paralysis and even death.

Once law enforcement officers arrive at the scene of the accident, they give the driver a sobriety test. If he does not pass, the driver is arrested on a DUI charge. This arrest can affect people in several different areas of their lives. For example, if the accused drives a vehicle for a living, her job will be in jeopardy after her bosses learn that she has been arrested for driving under the influence.

In some instances, people lose their driver licenses and are forced to give up their vehicles. This makes it difficult for them to go to work, visit the grocery store and take their kids to school. Their spouses and friends may be forced to drive them everywhere, and this can place a strain on their relationships.

An arrest on a DUI charge is also expensive monetarily. In order to have their licenses reinstated, they must have the Ignition Interlock Device or IID installed in their vehicles, but they will be required to pay for the installation as well as the maintenance. They must also pay much higher auto insurance premiums.

The problem is compounded when someone is seriously hurt in the collision. Just this fact alone is enough to make them feel extremely guilty. If someone dies, they would be charged with vehicular manslaughter, and this could result in a prison sentence.

Although you may feel remorseful, you do not have to plead guilty to this offense. You have the right to hire a DUI lawyer and defend yourself in court. Contact a DUI lawyer today if you have been arrested on a drunk driving charge.

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