How Long Does a DWI Stay on My Record?

March 11, 2016

By Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyer Jeremy Rosenthal

(972) 369-0577

texasdefensefirm.com

A Texas DWI conviction is on your record forever.

You can be convicted by either pleading guilty or being found guilty by a judge or jury after a trial.

What is surprising to me is when I ask random people how long driving while intoxicated stays on a criminal record  the wrong assumptions they make.  People think you get a fresh start after 7 years or 10 years.  They think it’s temporary.

Not only is it not temporary, but it can always be used to enhance subsequent DWI’s regardless of how long they were in the past.  A conviction in the 1960’s plus a new DWI arrest would be a DWI 2nd and so on.

Never take pleading guilty to anything lightly.

*Jeremy Rosenthal is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas. Nothing in this article is intended to be legal advice.  For legal advice contact an attorney directly.  Communications through this blog are not privileged.