The DWI Expungement Process

The DWI Expungement Process

          The DWI expungement is different than other misdemeanors.  In order to be eligible for DWI expungement, an individual must meet a few criteria :

• Ten years since the plea of guilty to a first offense Driving While Intoxicate charge;
• Never had a commercial driver’s license (CDL), even if the CDL has been surrendered;
• You have not had another alcohol-related offense, this includes administrative alcohol suspensions.

Upon filing in court a petition under the Missouri DWI expungement law a first offense driving while intoxicated conviction or plea of guilty can be removed from the record. The benefits to expunging a Driving While Intoxicated offense:

• No DWI conviction on your driving record.
• No DWI conviction on CaseNet.
• No prior DWI if for some reason you would pick up another DWI.
• No plea of guilty to DWI.
• No arrest for DWI.
• No conviction for DWI.

A DWI expungement is the most important step an individual can take in wrapping up a Driving While Intoxicated charge. Currently, under Missouri law, DWIs follow an individual for the rest of their life. Meaning a prosecutor can use a DWI that is decades old in order to charge an individual as a prior offender.  This means that if you receive a DWI in your 20’s, it will still count as a prior for the remainder of your life, unless you expunge that DWI.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding DWI expungements, don’t hesitate to contact Twibell Pierson Criminal Law and be referred to one our experienced DWI attorneys.