How Long Does a DUI Stay on Your Driving Record

Having a charge of driving under the influence (DUI) on one's criminal record or driving record can be a hassle when trying to obtain employment or when trying to purchase car insurance. In general, most people regard DUI as an act of carelessness that unnecessarily puts the impaired individual and other innocent individuals at risk. Many individuals want to know, "How long does a DUI stay on your driving record?" Unfortunately, they may not like the answer to this question. Unlike traffic citations that typically "fall off" one's driving record after a specified number of years, getting rid of DUI charges are not that simple in most states.

Because DUI charges can negatively affect an individual's life for years to come, it will be important to ensure that DUI charges do not remain on an individual's record indefinitely. Therefore, individuals should take steps to have their records expunged. This means that the individual can have the DUI charges removed from their record or they may have the charges sealed. By doing so, a check of their criminal records will no longer produce the DUI conviction. Expungement of DUI charges may not be available in every state, but these states may provide some other remedy to minimize the effects of DUI charges.

To again answer the question, "how long does a DUI stay on your driving record?": permanently. Unless steps are taken to remove the charge, DUI charges will remain on the individual's public record. Individuals interested in having DUI charges expunged from their record should contact a criminal defense attorney in their area. These attorneys are well-versed in DUI laws and the remedies available to those wishing to clear DUI charges from their record. The process of clearing one's record may be undertaken without legal counsel, but anytime individuals have to deal with the court system it is highly advisable for the individual to have an experienced attorney on their side.