Will a DUI Go on My Public Record?

Yes, a driving under the influence, or DUI, charge, arrest or conviction is placed on your DUI public record. Typically, a public record is any governmental information, files or minutes that are accessible to anyone to look at or scrutinize. Thus, your DUI is public record that can stay with you long after you’ve paid your penalty or managed to have the charge dropped. This means that anyone can go to your local court clerk’s office and search public records about your DUI.

A DUI on Your Public Record Has Many Negative Consequences

There are many negative outcomes from a DUI conviction, arrest or charge. For instance, one negative effect is jeopardizing future employment. A potential employer may want you to pass a background check. However, once your potential employer accesses your DUI public record, you may not receive the job you want. Another negative outcome of having a DUI public record is that anyone can look at the information regarding your arrest and/ conviction. Also, whenever you fill out any applications such as rental applications and are asked if you’ve ever been arrested or convicted of a crime, then you must answer yes.

A DUI Can Be Eliminated From Your Public Record

Although each state’s laws and requirements vary, it is possible for you to expunge the DUI from your public record. Of course, the specific time you must wait before the expungement process begins depends on the state law.

An expungement is the legal process of erasing an arrest or conviction from your public record. In many states, you must petition your local court to expunge the arrest or conviction. If there is no objection, you will receive a hearing in front a judge. After you plead your case, the judge may expunge your DUI arrest or conviction. Once your DUI public record is expunged, the arrest and/ conviction is deleted from your record. So, if asked if you were arrested or convicted of a DUI crime, then you can say no.

Seek Legal Assistance Regarding DUI Public Record

A DUI is extremely serious with many consequences. One of those consequences involves have the DUI on your public record for all to see. One way to remedy the DUI situation is to seek legal assistance. A lawyer can help you if you’re fighting the DUI arrest, trying to avoid a DUI conviction or wanting to eliminate it from your public record.