In Virginia, a DUI conviction can have several long-lasting consequences.
These can include both DMV demerit points as well as a mark on your permanent criminal record.
In this article, we’ll talk about how long a DUI offense stays on both your driving and criminal records. We’ll also go over the limited options that you have for getting your record expunged.
How Long Will a DUI Stay on My Driving Record?
Every time you are convicted of a traffic-related offense in Virginia, you will receive a certain number of DMV demerit points on your license.
Get too many of them, and you could potentially lose your driving privileges.
If you are convicted of driving under the influence in Virginia, you will receive six points on your license.
These points will remain on your license for two years from the date of the offense, after which they will be removed.
On the other hand, the actual offense will remain on your driving record for eleven years.
This record will be available to judges at future criminal trials and can affect any sentencing at that time.
For example, if you are convicted of a second instance of DUI, the judge will suspend your license for longer than the normal recommended amount.
Finally, your driving record can also have an impact on your insurance premiums.
Generally, this means that a reckless driving conviction will cost you a good deal of money in the long run simply from having to pay more for insurance.
If you would like to check whether you’re at risk of any of these penalties, you can obtain a copy of your driving record on the Virginia DMV website.
How Long Will a DUI Stay on My Criminal Record?
In Virginia, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is normally a Class 1 misdemeanor.
This means that the conviction will remain on your criminal record forever.
This record will be visible to certain employers and can even affect your eligibility for certain jobs.
As noted above, having a DUI offense on your driving record can also negatively affect your sentence if you are arrested for any traffic crimes in the future.
In rare circumstances, you may be able to petition your local Circuit Court to have your record expunged.
However, you may only do so under very specific circumstances.
In most cases, expungement is only possible if you can prove that you were wrongly convicted.
In addition, keep in mind that expunged crimes may still show up on full background checks, even if normal employers can’t see them.
However, it is also against Virginia law for employers to ask applicants to disclose their expunged charges.
Conclusion
In general, DUI charges in Virginia have several incredibly long-lasting consequences. For example:
- The DMV demerit points will remain on your driving record for 2 years.
- The DUI offense will remain on your driving record for 11 years.
- The DUI conviction will remain on your criminal record forever.
For this reason, you should think very carefully about your future before stepping into the courtroom to defend yourself against a DUI charge.
In almost every scenario, contacting a Virginia traffic attorney will improve your chances of receiving a favorable outcome.
With the help of an experienced Virginia attorney, you may be to get your charges reduced, or even dropped entirely.
At the bare minimum, you will better understand what you can expect from your case.
