I have been charged with a DUI. the STUPIDEST thing i have ever done.i regret it every morning i wake up. i even thought about killing myself because i felt so guilty and i've never done anything so horrible. no parking tickets not even detention in high school. fortunately, i thank God because nobody got hurt, no accident..just a misdemeanor. i have learned my lesson and i will continue to live with this and the lesson i've learned.
My question however is about my future. I'd like to study abroad in London for my masters, a year long program. I know certain countries ban anybody with a record to be allowed into their country. Is the UK one of them?
Also, my DUI may be reduced to a lower charge if th
You will want to consult with a British immigration attorney or contact the UK consulate here in the US. The weblink is posted below. Although I don't condone drinking and driving, you have learned your lesson. It doesn't mean that you are a bad person, or that you should beat yourself up over it. Take your lump and move on. However, if you ever do apply to law school you will need to answer that yes, you were arrested at some point. Many people have some issue in their past, usually as a result of some idiot youthful thing that they would rather not have anyone know about. Welcome to the human race.
What you may also want to consider is an expungement as it's hard to reduce a charge after a conviction:
California DUI expungement is an important legal procedure to:
(a) withdraw a DUI plea,
(b) obtain an Order setting aside the DUI conviction,
(c) enter a plea of Not Guilty, and
(d) obtain an Order of dismissal of the accusatory DUI pleading,
upon successful petition to the Court for review of a San Diego California DUI or Drunk Driving - related conviction.
The Court will first review & determine:
• If the term of San Diego California Superior Court probation was successfully completed & concluded;
• That all fines, restitution and reimbursement ordered by the court have been paid and everything ordered by the court was completed in a timely manner;
• That the petitioner is not now on probation for another offense;
• That the petitioner has no new pending California cases;
The Court then may allow the petitioner to withdraw his or plea or finding of guilt or no contest, and thereafter orders the case dismissed.
How does this help me?
A legal withdrawal of plea, an entry of not guilty, and a court dismissal of a San Diego California DUI is obviously very useful. If the petition is granted, you are released from ALL penalties and disabilities resulting from the conviction of DUI.
Expungement law (Penal Code Section 1203.4) provides in part:
"[Petitioner shall]...be permitted by the court to withdraw his or her plea of guilty or plea of nolo contendere and enter a plea of not guilty; or, if he or she has been convicted after a plea of not guilty, the court shall set aside the verdict of guilty; and, in either case, the court shall thereupon dismiss the accusations or information against the defendant and except as noted below, he or she shall thereafter be released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense of which he or she has been convicted, except..."
(1) The order does not relieve the defendant of the obligation to disclose the aforementioned conviction in response to any direct question contained in any questionnaire or application for public offense, for licensure by an state or local agency, or for contracting with the California State Lottery.
(2) The order does not permit the defendant to own, possess, or have custody or control of any firearm capable of being concealed upon the person, and it does not prevent conviction of the defendant under California Penal Code section 12021.
What about applying for jobs?
If Private Employers ask if you have every been convicted of a crime, you generally can respond with "NO". (Each question is different so please first contact an attorney before answering any specific question, in every case and for every form.)
On questions by Government Employers or Government Licensing Applications if you are asked if you have ever been convicted of a crime, you must disclose the expunged case.
Can employers consider a California DUI conviction that has been expunged (dismissed)?
In most San Diego California DUI cases, the answer is NO!
Once your California DUI cases is expunged (dismissed), it is no longer considered a California DUI conviction and California Labor Code 432.7(a) prohibits employers from asking an applicant to disclose information concerning a California DUI arrest or detention that did not result in California DUI conviction, or information concerning a referral to, and participation in, any pretrial or posttrial diversion program, nor shall any employer seek from any source whatsoever, or utilize, as a factor in determining any condition of employment including hiring. An employer who intentionally violates this section can be liable for a misdemeanor, plus fines, and attorney’s fees. This section does not apply to criminal justice agencies, health facilities, and has a few other narrow exceptions.
What doesn't a DUI Expungement do?
Your dismissed DUI conviction can still be used to increase your punishment in future DUI cases. The
What you may also want to consider is an expungement as it's hard to reduce a charge after a conviction:
California DUI expungement is an important legal procedure to:
(a) withdraw a DUI plea,
(b) obtain an Order setting aside the DUI conviction,
(c) enter a plea of Not Guilty, and
(d) obtain an Order of dismissal of the accusatory DUI pleading,
upon successful petition to the Court for review of a San Diego California DUI or Drunk Driving - related conviction.
The Court will first review & determine:
• If the term of San Diego California Superior Court probation was successfully completed & concluded;
• That all fines, restitution and reimbursement ordered by the court have been paid and everything ordered by the court was completed in a timely manner;
• That the petitioner is not now on probation for another offense;
• That the petitioner has no new pending California cases;
The Court then may allow the petitioner to withdraw his or plea or finding of guilt or no contest, and thereafter orders the case dismissed.
How does this help me?
A legal withdrawal of plea, an entry of not guilty, and a court dismissal of a San Diego California DUI is obviously very useful. If the petition is granted, you are released from ALL penalties and disabilities resulting from the conviction of DUI.
Expungement law (Penal Code Section 1203.4) provides in part:
"[Petitioner shall]...be permitted by the court to withdraw his or her plea of guilty or plea of nolo contendere and enter a plea of not guilty; or, if he or she has been convicted after a plea of not guilty, the court shall set aside the verdict of guilty; and, in either case, the court shall thereupon dismiss the accusations or information against the defendant and except as noted below, he or she shall thereafter be released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense of which he or she has been convicted, except..."
(1) The order does not relieve the defendant of the obligation to disclose the aforementioned conviction in response to any direct question contained in any questionnaire or application for public offense, for licensure by an state or local agency, or for contracting with the California State Lottery.
(2) The order does not permit the defendant to own, possess, or have custody or control of any firearm capable of being concealed upon the person, and it does not prevent conviction of the defendant under California Penal Code section 12021.
What about applying for jobs?
If Private Employers ask if you have every been convicted of a crime, you generally can respond with "NO". (Each question is different so please first contact an attorney before answering any specific question, in every case and for every form.)
On questions by Government Employers or Government Licensing Applications if you are asked if you have ever been convicted of a crime, you must disclose the expunged case.
Can employers consider a California DUI conviction that has been expunged (dismissed)?
In most San Diego California DUI cases, the answer is NO!
Once your California DUI cases is expunged (dismissed), it is no longer considered a California DUI conviction and California Labor Code 432.7(a) prohibits employers from asking an applicant to disclose information concerning a California DUI arrest or detention that did not result in California DUI conviction, or information concerning a referral to, and participation in, any pretrial or posttrial diversion program, nor shall any employer seek from any source whatsoever, or utilize, as a factor in determining any condition of employment including hiring. An employer who intentionally violates this section can be liable for a misdemeanor, plus fines, and attorney’s fees. This section does not apply to criminal justice agencies, health facilities, and has a few other narrow exceptions.
What doesn't a DUI Expungement do?
Your dismissed DUI conviction can still be used to increase your punishment in future DUI cases. The
