A DUI charge is a serious offense in the state of Texas and can come with long-term consequences. Some penalties that can come with this offense include fines, jail time, and a suspended driver’s license. Beyond these immediate consequences, a DUI conviction can have a lasting impact on your life, as it is a criminal offense. If you have a DUI conviction on your record, you may be wondering how long it will remain on your record. In this blog, we will cover how long a DUI stays on your record and how you can potentially remove it from your record to help you better understand how this conviction will affect your criminal record.
How Long Does a DUI Stay on Your Record in Texas?
In Texas, a DUI conviction will become a part of your permanent criminal record, which is maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). This record can be accessed by employers, landlords, and even insurance companies. This can make it difficult to rent a home or even get a job in the future. Unlike speeding tickets that eventually fall off your record, DUI charges are permanent unless you take further action to get them removed.
Is It Possible to Remove a DUI from Your Record?
Yes, it is possible to remove a DUI from your record, but only under certain circumstances. To remove a charge from your record, you will need to go through the expungement process. Expungement allows you to have the DUI completely erased from your criminal record. However, in Texas, this is not an option for most situations. To qualify for expungement, your case must have been dismissed, or you must have been found not guilty in court. Additionally, if you were wrongfully arrested for a DUI and the charges were dropped, you might be eligible to have the arrest removed from your record. These are all rare situations when it comes to DUI convictions.
What About Non-Disclosure or Sealing a DUI Record?
Texas has non-disclosure laws, which allow certain criminal records to be sealed from public view. However, this is only an option for DWI cases, not DUI. Texas focuses nondisclosure relief on adult DWI offenders to allow them to move forward after a first-time offense while viewing DUI charges as less significant and therefore ineligible for this benefit.
How Does a DUI Affect You Long-Term?
Having a DUI conviction on your record can come with serious long-term consequences. They have effects that stick with you long after the fines are paid and the court date is over.
Here are just a few of the ways a DUI conviction might affect you in the long run:
- Job Opportunities: A DUI will show up on a background check, which can make you less appealing as a candidate for a job. This is especially true for jobs that involve driving or have strict policies about criminal records.
- Higher Insurance Costs: A DUI conviction will likely lead to a significant increase in your car insurance premiums. Insurance companies see people with DUI offenses as high-risk, meaning you’ll pay more for coverage.
- Tougher Penalties for Future Offenses: If you ever get charged with another DUI, having a prior conviction on your record means you’ll face harsher penalties. Texas law increases the consequences for repeat offenders, which can include longer jail time, steeper fines, and a longer suspension of your license.
Why Legal Assistance is Crucial in DUI Cases
DUI convictions have serious long-term consequences and are typically rare to be removed from your record. Because of this, if you are facing DUI charges, it is important to have a good lawyer on your side. An experienced DUI attorney can help you navigate the legal process, explore options like expungement or record sealing, and work to reduce the penalties you face.
Don’t face this challenge alone. Contact C.L. Swisher Legal Group today for a free consultation. We are here to answer your questions and guide you through the legal process. We are committed to protecting your rights and helping you achieve the best possible outcome in your DUI case.
