CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL LAWYERS

Ready to Have a DUI Charge Expunged? What to Know

Removing a Past DUI Charge from Your Record: A Comprehensive Guide

If you have a past DUI charge on your criminal or driving record, and you wish to remove it, you need to find a trustworthy and experienced lawyer who has dealt with DUI expungement cases before. It shouldn’t be too complicated to locate one as long as you’ve managed to avoid trouble and abstained from drinking and driving since the original charges. Properly preparing for your meeting with the attorney can hasten your case’s progress.

Consultation

During your consultation, make sure to bring the essential information from your past DUI case, including your probationary details assigned as punishment. You need concrete proof to demonstrate that you faced probation, completed the process with utmost diligence, and are no longer on probation. Such information can aid in fast-tracking the expungement process.

The Process

With the proper information at your disposal, your lawyer should be able to go through the court system’s expungement requirements effortlessly. Normally, the process goes as follows:

1. A request is made to the court to have the charges expunged from your record.
2. You and your lawyer plead your case, and the judge hears your statement.
3. The judge approves the expungement.
4. You amend your initial plea from guilty or no-contest to not guilty.
5. The charges are expunged from your record.

If you’ve followed all the specific rules and terms from your sentencing, the expungement process should be quick and simple. If you’re unable to be physically present at the court hearing, your lawyer can represent you. Be sure to contact an attorney beforehand if you’re approaching the end of your probation period.

Stipulations

Even when the charge is removed from your record, you will have to answer “yes” when asked if you’ve been convicted of DUI or any alcohol-related driving charge. Also, suppose anyone runs a background check on you. In that case, it’s imperative to be transparent and provide the appropriate answers as required by the DMV or other organizations, regardless of whether your charges have been expunged. If you get another DUI charge within ten years, it could be viewed as a second conviction and could have more severe consequences.

Early Expungement

If your job requires you to drive, and the DUI charges have led to your licence revocation, or if they’re severely hampering your prospects, engage the services of a lawyer to try and file for early expungement. The lawyer can plead your case and highlight the importance of having your license without the DUI charges to facilitate an early expungement.

Conclusion

DUI charges can throw a wrench in your life, and it’s essential to get them expunged from your record, especially if you’ve served your time and fulfilled your responsibilities. With the right lawyer by your side, you can ensure that the process is seamless and that your past mistakes don’t come back to haunt you.