DUI and Your Record
Getting arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious charge that can lead to suspension of your driver’s license, heavy fines, community service, and mandatory enrollment in an educational course on drunk driving. While most people are familiar with potential sentences of a DUI conviction, there are many misconceptions about how a DUI charge affects a person’s record.
First and foremost, driving drunk is a crime. If you have been charged with a DUI, you have the option to contest the charge in court. A criminal defense lawyer with expertise in DUI defense can help you protect your rights in a court of law. Contact Rhode Island DUI lawyer Matthew Marin today at 401-287-4384 for assistance with your case.
DUI and Your Criminal Record
Some people have the misconception that, since a DUI is a driving related charge, it only appears on your driving record. However, throughout the U.S. a DUI is treated as a criminal charge and, if convicted, it appears on your criminal record. Another common assumption is that record of your DUI disappears 5 or 10 years after the conviction. In reality, a DUI can remain on your criminal record your entire life, affecting you personally and professionally, unless you work to have it expunged.
DUI and Your Driving Record
Contrary to what some people think, a DUI charge also appears on your driving record. This record is kept by the DMV and can be accessed by the public, just as a criminal record can. And like a criminal record, a DUI is on your driving record indefinitely. A DUI on your driving record can hurt your chances of getting or keeping a driving-related job and also leads to higher car insurance rates throughout your life.
Contact Us
If you have been charged with a DUI, you face the risk of having a long-lasting blemish on both your criminal and driving records. A good DUI defense lawyer can help you investigate all possible defense options and will examine all available evidence to help your case. Don’t accept a DUI conviction without exploring all of the alternatives. Contact aggressive, experienced Rhode Island DUI defense attorney Matthew Marin today at 401-287-4384.