Being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence can lead to all kinds of problems. Aside from initial worries about convictions and criminal penalties, the arrest alone leaves a mark on your criminal record. In Florida, even if you are cleared of the charges that mark remains and is publicly accessible. For this reason, some people choose to apply for the expungement of such arrests from their records.
Recently, in Tampa, a Florida Highway Patrol car was hit by another vehicle while crews were working on the road. The 28-year-old driver allegedly passed through traffic cones and other obstructions, not realizing that stretch of the interstate was closed. The collision resulted in massive delays southbound along the road.
According to troopers who attended the scene, the driver’s blood alcohol was tested and found to be at 0.21, which is above the state’s legal limit. As a result, he was arrested and taken to Hillsborough County jail. He faces a DUI injury charge, as well as a charge of DUI property damage.
If this man is unable to prove his innocence, he could face fines, license revocation or even a jail term. However, even if he is not convicted, his record will still contain evidence of the arrest, unless he applies for expungement. By doing this, he may be able to have the record of his arrest destroyed, so it cannot be used against him in the future.
DUI expungement is a helpful means of cleaning up your record. This can be helpful in the search for employment and also prevents previous arrests counting against you if you run into trouble again. If you are considering applying for expungement, an attorney can guide you through the process and help you increase your chances of having that application granted.
Source: My Fox Tampa Bay, “DUI driver barrels through road closures, hits FHP car,” April 18, 2014
