Some charges can be expunged, meaning that they no longer show up on a record like a background search. A Monmouth County expungement attorney can help you with the process, but can we help you expunge a DUI charge? We get that question a lot actually.
How Do I Expunge My DUI Charge?
In most cases, you would have to file a petition and a few other forms to get a charge expunged. It can help to have a lawyer assisting you so that everything is filled out correctly and that deadlines are not missed. Then there could be a hearing, and the court can decide to expunge the arrest and conviction.
This is not how it works for a DUI charge though. That is because a DUI charge cannot be expunged at all. Expungement is for criminal offenses. A DUI is merely a traffic offense, albeit a serious one that can have some grave consequences.
How Can a DUI Charge Affect Me Later?
The problem is that a DUI charge can keep affecting you in your personal and professional life. Your DUI can come up when:
You apply for a job: An employer might see a DUI and think that you are reckless. That can hurt your chances of securing employment. If a job requires driving in some capacity, you probably are not getting anywhere near an interview.
You look for a professional license: In order to advance in some careers, a professional license is necessary. Most industries hold people with these licenses to a high standard, and a DUI in your past might make advancement difficult.
You look for housing: A landlord may not want to rent to you because they see you as a risk. A mortgage lender could think the same thing.
Can an Existing DUI Charge Mean Harsher Penalties for Future Offenses?
These are not the only problems that you will face if you get convicted of a DUI though. Getting convicted of a DUI once can make future DUI penalties even more serious. A second DUI charge can mean higher fines, a mandatory prison stay, and even the suspension of your license. Any DUI charge beyond the second one will continue to add punishments.
How Can a DUI Lawyer Help Me?
This is why your best option is to fight this charge and do everything that you can to make sure that you do not get convicted. A lawyer from our firm can help you by:
- Getting evidence tossed out
- Questioning the legality of a traffic stop
- Sowing reasonable doubt about the field sobriety test or the police officer administering it
Your best strategy here is beating the DUI charge in the first place. We will do our best to help you with that.
Contact Our Law Firm
If you are facing a DUI charge, do not fight it alone. Contact the Law Offices of George J. Mardinly and schedule a consultation today. We can tell you more about your legal options and what we can do to assist you.