Texas DWI Defense Attorney Reports Expansion of Record Sealing Legislation Possible
The Texas Senate recently approved legislation that would allow individuals who are convicted of single-offense, nonviolent misdemeanors to have a “second chance” by asking a court to seal their criminal records. The bill, House Bill 3016, returned to the House so that the House may consider some changes proposed by the Senate.
If House Bill 3016 passes, it applies retroactively, to any person who ever got convicted of any single-offense nonviolent misdemeanor. Sealed records are just that, records that are hidden from public view. When a person’s record gets sealed, doors are open to them that would have remained closed while their offense was publicly visible on their criminal record. Sealed records are visible to police, and to others who are involved in sensitive industries like education and banking. This legislation is important for Texans because criminal convictions hold people back in many areas of their lives, limiting employment opportunities, housing options, and more. If the legislation passes, it will clear the way for many people who made one-off mistakes to move forward in areas of their lives where the consequences of those mistakes have been holding them back.
The “second-chance” provisions of House Bill 3016 apply to class C misdemeanors, and to DWI convictions where the driver’s blood alcohol level was under 0.15. If the bill becomes law, qualifying DWI defendants could ask a court for an order of nondisclosure after only six months of compliant usage of an ignition interlock device. Alternatively, an order of nondisclosure would be available to qualifying defendants after five years has passed since the time that they completed whatever sentence they got for their DWI. The opportunity for record sealing is not available to defendants that get convicted of crimes that the judge has determined to be sexual or violent in nature, even if it is their first offense. House Bill 3016 is not unique in its purpose. It is designed to build on to legislation that got passed in 2015, which applies to Class A and Class B misdemeanors that are nonsexual in nature and which do not involve family violence.
Texas DWI Defense Attorney Alex Tyra – Standing Up for the Rights of Texans Accused of Driving While Intoxicated
If House Bill 3016 passes, it could help you recover from the adverse effects that your DWI conviction has had on your life. If you face DWI charges in Texas, the best thing that you can do is get help from a Texas DWI defense attorney. Your attorney can help you find the answers to the questions that you have about how to proceed with your case, how to minimize the impact of your DWI case on your life, and help you find any other information that you seek. Arrange for a consultation with Texas DWI Defense Attorney Alex Tyra today, by calling or office at (903) 753-7499. Alternatively, you can set up an initial consultation by submitting an online contact form through our website.
