Alabama, Will a conviction stemming from a drunk driving accident permanently stain my record?
If you were operating your vehicle while intoxicated in the State of Alabama and you caused an accident as a result, you were probably charged with DUI among other offenses. Being convicted of DUI is a serious matter as the crime itself carries severe penalties and can impact your life in a multitude of ways after serving your sentence. For example, certain companies might restrict a DUI offender from seeking employment with them simply because the position might entail completing certain types of tasks that would be risky to do in the event the worker did so while drunk or drugged.
Aside from limiting opportunities, a conviction stemming from a drunk driving accident also makes it more difficult for drivers to obtain auto insurance at the same rate as other drivers are paying. And in some cases, an insurer may even choose not to provide an individual who has been convicted of DUI and other related offenses with an insurance policy. Now that we have identified some of the adverse effects a DUI charge carries with it, let’s discuss how long the conviction will remain on your record and if there is anything that can be done to get it removed.
How long will a DUI conviction remain on my record if I live in the State of Alabama?
A DUI will forever remain on your record, although there are certain agencies that may not be able to access the conviction after a certain amount of time has passed. Now, if you were to seek employment in a certain industry (i.e. law enforcement or education), the employer you apply with will be able to access your record and will see your DUI charge. The only way to get a DUI charge removed from your record is to have it expunged.
According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, only a non-felony charge (i.e. a misdemeanor criminal offense, a violation, a traffic violation, or a municipal ordinance violation) can be expunged if one of the following criteria are met:
- “The charge was dismissed with prejudice.”
- “The charge was no billed by a grand jury.”
- “The defendant was found not guilty of the charge.”
- “The charge was dismissed without prejudice more than two years ago, has not been refiled, and the defendant has not been convicted of any other felony or misdemeanor crime, any violation, or any traffic violation, excluding minor traffic violations, during the previous two years.”
If you were charged with additional offenses as a result of causing a drunk driving accident, you may not be eligible to get your conviction expunged.
Important: The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency states that a conviction cannot be expunged, “only charges for non-felonies or non-violent felonies under certain circumstances may be expunged.”Because it can be difficult to determine whether your DUI charge/conviction qualifies as one that can be expunged from your record, it is recommended you speak with a DUI attorney in Alabama who can determine this for you.
Now, if you were recently involved in a drunk driving accident that was your fault and you have yet to retain legal counsel, USAttorneys.com is here to connect you with some of the best DUI accident attorneys in the State of Alabama. Not only can an attorney help you fight your charges, but potentially get them reduced to a lesser degree so that they one day can be removed from your record. If you would like to speak with a lawyer in your city now, USAttorneys.com is ready to help you locate one.
