As is true in every state in the U.S., DUIs (whether drug or alcohol related) are serious crimes in California. As a DUI attorney in Anaheim Hills CA, one of the most common questions we get is how long a DUI is going to show up on their record. Essentially, clients want to know how long the DUI will affect their life. Read on to get answers and then contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 if you need help from an experienced attorney.
A DUI conviction affects your life in several ways
If you are convicted of a DUI then you will be facing two types of blemishes on your record. First, you will have a blemish on your driving record. Second, you will have the DUI on your criminal record. Your driving record will reflect your DUI for ten years. It will be on your criminal record for the rest of your life – unless you are able to get it expunged. In that case, it will not show up on most criminal background checks.
The long-term impact of a DUI conviction on your driving record
A DUI is going to stay on your driving record for a decade. The clock starts from the date of arrest, not the date of conviction, and there is no way to get this record off a driving record. Even having the charged expunged from the criminal record will not remove it from the driving record.
In some ways, having a DUI stay on your driving record is not as serious as it being on your criminal record. This is due mostly to the fact that only a few people have access to your driving record, such as law enforcement and insurance companies. Your driving record is not going to be checked on most background checks for other purposes. Note that having a DUI on a driving record will result in much higher insurance rates for a decade after the arrest. Let a DUI attorney in Anaheim Hills CA work to prevent a conviction.
The long-term impact of a DUI conviction on your criminal record
A DUI is going to stay on a criminal record forever. In most cases, it will be charged as a misdemeanor but it could potentially be charted as a felony. Criminal records are more commonly accessed by potential lawyers, landlords, etc. As a result, it is worth hiring an experienced DUI attorney in Anaheim Hills CA to help reduce or beat the charges against you.
You do have options, even if you failed a breathalyzer test. Contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 today to begin your free legal consultation. We are here to assess your situation and give you an honest legal opinion on what your best options are. You do not have to face this alone – call us now.