Expungement of First Time Alcohol-Related Driving Offense (DWI/DUI)

Although Missouri is unfavorable with respect to expungements (i.e., clearing a criminal record), Section 577.054 does provide reprieve for first time alcohol-related driving offenses in narrow circumstances. The requirements are as follows:
(1) The conviction/guilty plea has to be over ten (10) years old;
(2) The conviction/guilty plea has to be for a misdemeanor or violation of a municipal ordinance;
(3) The conviction/guilty plea was not for driving a commercial vehicle while under the influence of alcohol;
(4) Within the past ten (10) years, the petitioner has not been convicted of another alcohol-related offense, or had any other alcohol-related contacts under the meaning of Section 302.525; and
(5) There can only be one expungement pursuant to 577.054.
If granted, the effect of a 577.054 expungement is to erase from all official records all recordations of Petitioner’s, arrest, plea, trial and/or conviction. And as the statute clearly states, the purpose is to restore such person to the status he or she occupied prior to such arrest, plea or conviction and as if such event had never taken place.
Contact us with questions relating to criminal offenses or expungements.

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