How Long Does a DUI Stay on My Criminal Record?

A DUI conviction has severe consequences, such as losing your driver’s license, getting hefty fines, and potentially being sentenced to jail time. Additionally, the conviction can stay on your record for ten years. The impact is the inability to find employment or even live in certain areas, as the record shows on any background checks landlords and potential employers conduct.

You may wonder if you can remove a DUI from your criminal record to minimize its impact on background checks. Unfortunately, Colorado doesn’t have a provision for DUI expungement. Your best bet would be to hire skilled criminal defense lawyers in Colorado Springs to defend you during the trial and hopefully avoid a conviction in the first place.

What Shows Up in a Background Check in Colorado?

Typically, potential employers and landlords request applicants’ criminal history information and verification. Criminal background checks for employment comprise the following details:

  • The type of offense you were arrested for
  • The date the crime happened and when the charges were filed
  • The disposition of the case
  • The sentence you were served

Background checks on criminal history in Colorado go back to the last seven years. However, an employer can look back further if the job is in education or medicine or if the job carries an annual salary of at least $75,000.

Does a DUI Show Up on a Background Check?

A DUI is a criminal offense. If you’re convicted, the record will appear on a criminal background check. A background check may reveal a DUI arrest if the case was dismissed or is still pending. In Colorado, you can have a criminal record without a conviction for the DUI. Consult Colorado Springs DUI lawyers on minimizing the impact of a DUI charge.

Misdemeanor DUI vs. Felony DUI

You may be charged with a misdemeanor or felony DUI in Colorado in case of a DUI that’s not a traffic offense, depending on the case specifics. A misdemeanor charge has less severe penalties than a felony, carrying a maximum sentence of one year. It can also have other penalties, such as fines or probation.

First-time DUI charges often result in misdemeanor convictions, although the charges can be enhanced based on various circumstances, such as another person’s death or severe injury. You may receive harsher penalties, such as a longer sentence if you have previous convictions. DUI lawyers in Colorado Springs can aggressively defend you against the punishments.

Look-back Periods for Colorado DUIs Influence How Previous DUIs Affect Future DUIs

While other states have what is known as a “look-back period,” Colorado lacks this provision. The period refers to how long courts can consider subsequent offenses and increase penalties for current offenses. In Colorado, you could still have a DUI from 10 years back affect your case today.

Most courts look back five to seven years to determine penalties, but they can still look back further. Past DUIs remain on your criminal record regardless of how far back they happened. Let Colorado Springs DUI attorneys present a solid defense on your behalf to prevent past DUIs from affecting current ones.

Will a DUI Affect My Ability to Get a Job in Colorado?

A DUI can adversely affect your employment and employability, whether you’re currently working or actively seeking employment. Depending on your field of work, you may face severe difficulties in progressing your career.

The Impact of a DUI Record on Employment Background Check

Some types of work are more likely to be negatively affected by a DUI criminal record than others. For example:

  • Any job that requires driving, such as a school bus driver or commercial truck driver, can be jeopardized by a DUI conviction.
  • Jobs that entail the use of heavy machinery can also be significantly affected if you have a DUI criminal record. Engineers, construction workers, and heavy equipment operators may lose jobs due to a DUI.
  • Government jobs like law enforcement, government officials, and state and deferral employees may be terminated due to a DUI.
  • Specific professions such as teaching and medicine, which require regular background checks, are also often affected by DUI criminal records, and you could have your contract terminated.

If your license is revoked, you won’t be able to move from one place to another if you rely on your car to commute. Driving to work, shopping, or dropping off your kids at school won’t be possible unless you use alternative means as a passenger, but not the driver. Let skilled attorneys provide aggressive representation to protect your rights.

Additionally, a DUI impacts your job schedule if you are sentenced to mandatory community work or jail time. Consequently, it can hurt your relationship with your employer. Regularly being away from work due to a criminal offense may not be excusable.

What Is the Best Way to Prevent a DUI from Showing Up in My Background Check?

The surest way to avoid having a DUI conviction appear on your background check is to avoid a conviction in the first place. Experienced and aggressive criminal defense lawyers in Colorado Springs can assist in determining if your rights were upheld during the traffic stop, arrest, and investigation according to the policies and procedures of police departments.

If they establish any loopholes, the case could be dismissed. Alternatively, your attorneys can explore other options to reduce the severity of the potential consequences you face. An example is a plea bargain that allows you to receive a lesser sentence in exchange for a guilty plea.

A Skilled DUI Attorney Protecting You Against a DUI Conviction

A DUI conviction can adversely affect your rights and future. It can show up in employment background checks and minimize your chances of being hired if you’re seeking employment. If you’re facing charges for a DUI, let aggressive and knowledgeable criminal defense attorneys in Colorado Springs fight the legal battle on your behalf to have the case dropped or dismissed.

Our DUI defense attorney can help you in your DUI case. We understand how nerve-wracking it can be to face criminal charges, and we can offer the legal support you need during this challenging time. Call The Lux Law Firm at 719-451-7469 to schedule a FREE initial case assessment.