You may be wondering “can a DWI be removed from your record” or if it’s going to follow you the rest of your life. DWI, or “driving while intoxicated” can have steep consequences. A DWI on your record can impact many different areas of your life. Having this black mark can prevent you from obtaining certain jobs, raise your vehicle insurance rates and can even impact how much interest you pay for credit.
What is the Difference Between a DWI Conviction and a DWI Arrest?
A DWI arrest is a situation where you were stopped by a police officer and placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated. A DWI conviction is the next step in that arrest process. If you are convicted of a DWI, it means that you’ve had your day in court and the judge or jurors found you guilty of driving while intoxicated or you pled guilty to the offense of DWI.
It’s important to know the difference between a DWI conviction and a DWI arrest because they are treated differently. In Texas, you can never get a DWI conviction expunged. You may be able to get a DWI conviction non-disclosed depending on the circumstances and the terms of your conviction for DWI. It might be possible to get a DWI arrest, without a conviction expunged from your record, depending on the situation.
What Qualifies You For a DWI Arrest Expunction?
The individual circumstances will determine if your DWI arrest might be eligible for an expunction. The first determining factor is whether you were convicted. If you were, then the DWI arrest record can’t be expunged from your record in Texas, you may however be able to seek a petition for non-disclosure. Regardless, this means that it’s imperative to seek legal help as soon as you’re arrested for a DWI, so your attorney can help you avoid conviction.
How to Get Your DWI Arrest Removed From Your Record
First, if this is a recent arrest, contact a Texas DWI lawyer immediately. This is the only way to ensure that you have a chance of not getting convicted. Second, work with your attorney on getting your DWI arrest record expunged. It’s important at this point to follow all legal orders and follow your Texas lawyer’s advice. With professional legal help from experts like Gebhardt and Eppes, PLLC, you just might be able to put your DWI arrest far behind you.
