How to Clean Your DWI Criminal Record

It is possible to clean your DWI criminal record by expunging, or "erasing," an arrest or a conviction. If you want to stay out of jail, keep or reclaim your driver's license and avoid major impediments to your career, finances and relationships, take steps to clean up your behavior and your record.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Determine whether the state where the DWI incident happened offers special DWI programs. Most states allow some opportunity to redeem yourself. You may have more or less options depending on the severity of the charge and whether or not it was a repeat offense.
2. Get a lawyer. DWI laws and penalties vary significantly by state, so be sure you have the right representation. Find an attorney in the state where the arrest or conviction happened. Look for someone with significant experience in DWI and DUI and a proven track record of getting DWI criminal cases dismissed from client records.
3. Be a good citizen. Someone with an otherwise clean record who incurred a single misdemeanor DWI or DUI several years ago has a good chance of having that arrest or conviction expunged.
4. Work with your attorney to petition the court for an expungement of your record. You will need to file a formal petition with the superior court of the county where the arrest or conviction happened in order to start this process.
5. Help your lawyer help you by telling him or her everything about the incident, no matter how embarrassing it is.
6. Attend all hearings on the dates and times identified by the court. Be prompt, respectful and on your best behavior.
7. Appreciate the expungement if your petition is granted. Take full advantage of your second chance and clean up your act. Never drink and drive again, or the consequences for yourself and others may be far worse than arrest and conviction would have been.