Changes to Californias Expungement Law May Brand for Life Those Convicted of DUI



Millions of Californians who have been convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) have just two more months to exercise their right to have their conviction expunged from their permanent criminal record. Changes to the California law that gives those who successfully complete probation a right to have their criminal convicted dismissed go into affect on January 1, 2008.

While violations on a person's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) record disappear in time, the criminal conviction stays on a person's record for life -- unless it is expunged.

California Assembly Bill 645, which was signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in July, modifies existing law to require those convicted for violating specified vehicle codes to prove to a judge that it is "in the interest of justice to have the conviction expunged." Other common offenses on the specified list are reckless driving and driving on a suspended license.

"This will make it much more difficult and costly for people to get convictions off of the record," says attorney Mathew K. Higbee (



Changes to Californias Expungement Law May Brand for Life Those Convicted of DUI