Removing DUI Charges: How Long is This on My Record?

If you’ve recently faced a DUI, you’re likely wondering how long you’ll be affected by this mistake. After all, it was a mistake; a bad judgement call. Now, you’re wondering how your DUI will influence future employment opportunities, your ability to drive, and your record. When it comes to removing DUI charges, it takes quite a while to get it done…

Removing DUI Charges: How Long is This on My Record?

Remove DWI charges may be at the top of your to-do list after your arrest. A DWI charge can affect many areas of your life. Things like jobs, insurance, and housing may depend on your background check. Therefore, having a DWI on your record for any amount of time can be harmful to your career and future. But just how long does a DWI blemish your record? That can depend on several things…

Raising Your Insurance for 3 years

A DWI can cause a spike in your insurance cost. This higher premium can last for up to three years. While prices may vary from each representative, they will still give you a higher quote than someone with a clean record. After those three years, your offense should not affect your policy and the cost should go down.

7 Year Look Back Period

A look back period consist of 7 years when your DWI stays on your record for sentencing purposes. In short, this means that during that time, you can get no other drinking and driving offenses. If during that 7 year period you get another DWI, it will count as a second offense. This can mean more severe fines and punishments which most likely will include jail time.

15 Years for Expungement

Even after your insurance cost goes down and the look back period is over, a DWI stays on your criminal history. That means it will still show up on background checks. For this reason, after 15 years you may wish to have your DWI expunged and file for removing DUI charges. This can take place only if you remained free of other criminal convictions. Once you have your charge expunged it will no longer show up on back ground checks.

DWI Stop Myths: Trying to Cheat the System

Facing a DWI-related stop, and potential DWI, can be quite frightening. You don’t know if you’re within the legal limit, what your rights are, and if you can do anything to help your case. You’ve likely heard a few little pieces of DWI stop folklore and you might want to try them out now and help your case. However, those folklore’s? Are mostly DWI stop myths. Do any of them work? Ultimately, there’s not too much you can do to cheat a DWI stop, as it’s pretty cut and dry. But, let’s take a look at those DWI stop myths, and we’ll explain to you why it is that they’re unsuccessful.

DWI Stop Myths: Trying to Cheat the System

Cheating a Breath Test 

Possibly the most common of DWI stop myths, many people believe you can cheat a breath test. The myth is that you can cheat the test to produce a lower BAC and therefore, test under the legal limit. For example, people believe you can cheat a breath test by drinking mouth wash. While the mouth wash may mask the smell of alcohol, it may actually worsen your breath test. Many mouth washes have a low amount of alcohol in them, which could actually make your breath results even higher.

In another example, people believe you can suck on pennies to cheat a breath test. However, most breath test devices use an infrared light to measure the drop in intensity in light. Therefore, the copper from the pennies will not be able to throw off the device.

Reducing your drunkeness

Some other DWI stop myths focus on lowering how drunk you’ve become. In short, you want to be able to drink but then remain sober enough to drive. For instance, many people believe drinking strong, black coffee will help sober you up to drive. So after drinking too much, they may drink coffee in hopes of being able to drive home. Another idea like this, is to eat greasy foods after drinking. For instance, many people believe eating a big cheeseburger or slice of pizza will lower their blood alcohol concentration.

In reality, your BAC rises based on how much you drink

Nothing is going to speed up the process of lowering it. You must allow your body time to process the alcohol through your system. In short, most DWI stop myths are just that— myths. Once you drink and drive, you are subject to facing a DWI. While there isn’t much you can do to alter the outcome of the stop, there are things you can do to alter the outcome of your case. So, speak with an attorney about defense options for fighting your DWI.

DUI-related Probation: What does this mean for me? 

When it comes to DUI offenders in South Carolina, the majority are first time offenders. Therefore, it’s likely that most of you are unfamiliar with the proceedings that come along with a DUI. From the roadside testing, getting a lawyer, your bail hearing, and getting your license back… There are a lot of different steps to take, and a lot of questions to ask. One common question that arises is about DUI-related probation. How does it work? What are the court’s expectations of me? And on top of that, what happens if I violate probation?

DUI-related Probation: What does this mean for me?

First of all what does “probation” mean?

Think of probation in the same way that you think of academic probation at a school. You violated the schools policy; therefore you must perform some actions in order to get back in “good standing”. For a crime, the state basically wants to monitor you to make sure that your character and behavior was more of a slip-up rather than a habit. So, most of the actions you’ll perform on DUI-related probation are meant to prevent you from drunk driving.

The specifics for a DUI-related probationary period:

The following are all examples of what you’ll specifically for a DUI:

1. The DMV suspends your driver’s license. Depending on the situation, you may be able to appeal this decision within a set amount of time.
2. Devices on your person or in your car to monitor your drinking.
3. Random testing.
4. Fines
5. Classes on substance abuse. Sometimes, these classes are assigned if you fail an appeal.

Now, it’s important to note that these are not punishments for your crime. Rather, these activities happen after conviction and punishment. Therefore, if the judge sentences you to community service, you must fully participate in that community service.

If you break your probation, you will have to answer to an administrative officer, or to the court. In court, you’ll be sent to General Sessions for a hearing. However, if you miss that hearing, the court issues a bench warrant without an expiration date. Therefore, you must stay on top of your probation and complete the assigned program fully. Only then, will your probationary period be over.