When most people think about the consequences of a DUI case, they imagine what will happen when a traffic stop turns into a conviction. A conviction can force you to pay heavy fines, lose your license, and even spend time in jail. However, even an arrest for alleged intoxicated driving is a serious matter, even if you are never convicted.

This arrest will appear on your criminal record. Although it will not appear as a conviction, the arrest can discourage potential employers from hiring you or apartment complexes from letting you live on their property. Thankfully, state law allows requests to erase non-convictions from DUI arrest records in Bridgeport. The lawyers at Ruane Attorneys can help you clear your publicly available criminal record and protect your future.

DUI Arrests Appear on Criminal Records

Unlike most other examples of traffic stops that allege mere violations, DUIs are criminal offenses. Under Connecticut General Statute § 14-227a, this offense is a misdemeanor where a conviction can result in a jail sentence.

An arrest for an alleged DUI will appear on a person’s criminal record. This happens as soon as a criminal court has an arraignment on the DUI charge. The arrest will remain on a person’s criminal record while the case moves through the court. Even if the case ends with an acquittal or a dismissal of the charges, the arrest will remain on the person’s official record and could negatively affect their life moving forward.

Petitioning a Court to Erase Criminal Records

Thankfully, state law allows people to move forward with their lives after a non-conviction. CT Gen. Stat. § 54-142a says that any case ending with a finding of non-guilt or dismissal should automatically be erased by the court after the State’s opportunity to file an appeal expires. Ideally, this process will be automatic. However, this is not always the case.

An attorney at our firm could help pursue the erasure of DUI arrest records in Bridgeport. Our legal team can work to research the outcome of a recent case or an event that happened years in the past. If that case ended with an outcome other than a conviction, our Bridgeport lawyers could work to ensure that the appropriate courts take the proper measures to erase the DUI arrest from their files. We can also contact the relevant prosecutor’s office to see that they eliminate the event from their records. Ruane Attorneys works to give people a clean start.

Speak with a Lawyer Now About DUI Arrest Records in Bridgeport

An allegation of drunk driving is a criminal offense under state law. As a result, an arrest will appear on your criminal record while the case is still in the courts. However, suppose the case ends with a result other than a conviction. In that case, state law says that courts, law enforcement agencies, and prosecutors must remove any mention of it on your criminal record.

A lawyer at Ruane Attorneys can help ensure that this happens. If you are concerned that a DUI arrest is still affecting your job opportunities, housing options, or family law matters, consult our firm about clearing your record. Reach out to learn more about erasing DUI arrest records in Bridgeport.