Oklahoma DUI On Your Permanent Criminal Record

When facing a DUI charge, it is easy to get wrapped up in the immediate, short-term effects a conviction can bring: jail time, money paid in court fees and fines, and potential loss of driving privileges. However, you need to consider the long-term effects as well.

If your job involves driving, a DUI conviction could leave you unemployed. Even if your job doesn’t directly involve driving, you could lose your job due to time spent away from work while in court fighting your charges or serving time in jail. Or, if you lose your driving privileges, you may find yourself with unreliable transportation to and from work, which may cause an employer to reconsider your job status.

DUI Conviction and Your Record

Most people do not realize that a DUI charge can actually be noted on three separate records: an arrest record, your driving record, and a court record.

As soon as you are arrested, the police officer will confiscate your license and the DUI will be reported on your driving record. The only way to appeal this mark on your record and save your driving privileges is to request an administrative license hearing, which you must do within 30 days of being arrested.

Your arrest also will trigger an arrest record, which is maintained by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. This record is very difficult to clear; expungement usually is granted only in specific cases. Whenever possible, our goal is to ensure that your charge and/or DUI arrest fits into these specific instances so you may expunge your arrest later.

The court record is generally easier to have cleared. Some typical ways to have a court record for DUI expunged are to have your charge dismissed at motion hearing, accept a deferred sentence, or to win your case at trial.

DUI and Your Future

Along with potentially costing you your current job, a DUI conviction can make it difficult to obtain employment in the future. Many employers now conduct criminal background checks on job candidates, and a conviction of DUI on your criminal record could potentially prevent you from being hired.

A DUI conviction can also harm your chances of getting into college, as many schools also conduct criminal background checks on applicants.

Additionally, a DUI can substantially increase your car insurance rates or, in some cases, cause your insurance policy to be canceled altogether.

If you have been charged with DUI in Oklahoma, call the Hunsucker Legal Group to see how we can help you minimize the impact on your future. Call 405-231-5600 to schedule a free, no-risk case consultation.