Reader’s Question:

I was convicted of DUI in Los Angeles, California in March 2002. Will my records be clean by March 2009?

Carrie

Los Angeles, CA

According to the CA Department of Motor Vehicles, even if a DUI was previously taken off your record (due to the previous time period of 7 years), it will now appear back on your driving record and will remain there until 10 years from the violation date. In your case, DUI in March 2002 that was set to be taken off your record after 7 years (by March 2009) will instead stay on your driving record until March 2012.

Any DUI violation under the new California Vehicle Code sections 23140, 23152, or 23153 will report for 10 years. Other non-DUI violations (say, “wet” reckless) that will report to courts and law enforcement for 10 years may count against you for the purpose of determining increased penalties for repeat offenders, but will continue to show on a public driving record for only 7 years. Based on the new California laws, drivers with DUI violation within the past 10 years are not entitled to receive a good driver discount.