The Long-Term Effects of a DUI Charge on Your Permanent Record

Being convicted of driving under the influence can stay with you for a long time. Not only are there extensive consequences you will face as a result of your conviction – such as jail time, heavy fines, educational classes, and the installation of ignition interlock device – but there are also long-term consequences you may face – such as being fired from your job, having trouble getting new jobs, losing professional licensure, and so on.

It’s important that you do everything you can to avoid a DUI conviction, including never driving under the influence and calling a good Mesa DUI defense attorney if you are charged. One DUI conviction will stay on your criminal record for seven years, and the consequences will follow you around that whole time.

Glass of beer and car keys, driving under the influence charges and their long terms effects

Multiple DUI Convictions

Another reason that the date of your conviction matters is if you are convicted of another DUI, the penalties become more severe. You don’t just have to worry about the social consequences of having a DUI on your record, such as not being approved for a volunteer position or getting a job. You also have to worry about more intense legal consequences.

Every subsequent DUI you get within seven years of a previous conviction will increase your fines, jail time, and other penalties. On a third DUI conviction, you are convicted of a felony, not a misdemeanor. A felony conviction comes with much more severe consequences, including losing your right to vote, losing your right to own a gun, and not being able to get many jobs. You should try to avoid a felony conviction at all costs. Otherwise, the consequences can follow you for much longer than seven years.

How to Get a DUI Conviction Off Your Record

The best strategy to keep a DUI conviction off your record is to fight the initial charge as vigorously as you can. Hire the best DUI defense attorney in Phoenix you can afford, and explore every legal strategy to find the best one. Avoiding a conviction is the best way to avoid a criminal record.

Arizona does not allow criminal convictions to be expunged. That means that once you are convicted of DUI, it goes on your criminal record and it stays there. You have to do everything you can to avoid being arrested for DUI – including always driving sober – and then do everything you can to avoid conviction if you are arrested, including working with the best Phoenix DUI attorney you can.

Getting a DUI Conviction Set Aside

Setting aside a conviction does not mean that it is removed from your criminal record. However, there will be a note on your record that you were convicted, but that the conviction was set aside. That will help you avoid some of the legal consequences of a DUI, as well as some of the long-term social consequences. However, if you are convicted of another DUI within seven years of that DUI, even if the conviction was set aside, you will still face those increased consequences.

Whether or not you can have a conviction set aside depends upon the circumstances of your arrest and on your criminal record. You should talk through this option with a good DUI defense attorney in Mesa, as well as other legal options for minimizing the consequences of a potential DUI conviction.

Always practice safe driving to avoid arrest and possible conviction. If you are charged, call a Mesa DUI attorney as soon as you can to help you through every step of the process. With the right legal counsel, you can minimize your risk of incriminating yourself and increase your chances of avoiding conviction.

Call My AZ Lawyers today if you have been charged with a DUI in the Phoenix area. Our dedicated DUI lawyers offer free, same-day consultations, and they can file the needed paperwork quickly. We’ll help you understand your options and put together the best strategy possible to fight your DUI conviction or to minimize your penalties. Whether you are facing your first DUI conviction or your fourth, our attorneys are ready to help you fight. Call us in the Phoenix area today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced DUI defense attorney who gets results.

Arizona Offices:

Mesa Location:
1731 West Baseline Rd., Suite #100
Mesa, AZ 85202
Office: (480) 448-9800
Email: info@myazlawyers.com
Website: https://myazlawyers.com/

Glendale Location:
20325 N 51st Avenue Suite #134, Building 5
Glendale, AZ 85308
Office: (602) 509-0955

Tucson Location:
2 East Congress St., Suite #900-6A
Tucson, AZ 85701
Office: (520) 441-1450

Avondale Location:
12725 W. Indian School Rd., Ste E, #101
Avondale, AZ 85392
Office: (623) 469-6603