Many folks wonder whether they can expunge a DUI, this is one of the more common questions posed to Tampa DUI attorneys. In short, if you are convicted of a DUI in Florida, you are unable to expunge or seal such an arrest. As we further discuss in our Tampa criminal defense blog, the requirements to seal and/or expunge an arrest require at a minimum an individual not be adjudicated of the crime. Florida law requires judges to always adjudicate individuals on a driving under the influence conviction. In short, this makes it impossible to seal and/or expunge that arrest. This is obviously on purpose because the Florida Legislature very rarely gives such limited discretion to Judge regarding these issues.
If the driving under the influence charge is reduced to a reckless driving, as we’re often able to successfully do, and the charge results in a withhold of adjudication, there is the potential to seal such a charge. Unfortunately, the charge still cannot be expunged from one’s record, but may be able to be sealed.
If you have questions about the expungement process, we recommend contacting our office immediately. The sealing and expungement process is incredibly complex because documents are required to be sent to multiple law enforcement agencies at times. Further, the sealing and expunging processes are so critical for people moving forward with their lives post-arrest, that it must be done quickly and efficiently.
If you or someone you know has questions concerning their Tampa DUI arrest, contact the Tampa DUI attorneys of Hackworth Law for a free case consultation. We have handled thousands of cases involving these issues and have had great success in representing our clients ensuring their rights are protected. If you’d like to contact one of our Tampa DUI attorneys immediately, please use the “contact us now” tab in the upper right hand corner of our website. We appreciate you taking the time to check out our Tampa DUI attorney blog and look forward to hearing from you in the future.