I have received a number of inquires by clients who use the phrase, “I just paid a fine and did some classes. I didn’t plead guilty.”  This incorrect statement often leads to future trouble.  In the DUI context, people without lawyers walk into court, sign a waiver of counsel and plead guilty.  He/she thinks after paying the fines and completing mandatory CRO classes, he didn’t actually plead guilty to DUI.  However, he may not realize the long reaching affect this has.  In Alabama, the DUI conviction will appear on a person’s “record” forever.  While a prior DUI conviction may or may not apply for sentencing purposes, this issue is very different than a DUI appearing on a background check.

Potential employers now perform background checks in a cost effective manner.  A person who showed up to court without a lawyer and “paid some fines and did some classes” think that DUI arrest will not show up in their background.  Unfortunately, he finds out the hard way that he actually pled guilty to a DUI that will show up forever.  This illustrates again why you need to hire an experienced DUI defense lawyer.